As has been heavily reported, French-based forwards Will Skelton, Rory Arnold and Tolu Latu have all been included in Dave Rennie’s 37-man squad, ending their respective exiles from test rugby.
All three players had previously been ineligible for Wallabies selection under the Giteau Law, but the relaxation of Rugby Australia’s [RA’s] eligibility rules has enabled Rennie to bolster his tight five by the selection of that trio.
I watched Skelton play in Chicago….he was a giant among big men. Getting this powerhouse back makes Oz that much more formidable. They look likely to intensify their challenge to the Boks and ABs through the WC.
Talk about taking the skeleton out of the closet.
A big one at that, along with others that all banished themselves from Australia during the dark era of Australian rugby.
Always enjoyed Skelton's contribution for the Aussies and Sara's.
A real powerhouse and a great addition to a Aussie squad that has found new life.
This is fantastic news for Australia, though Mortlock won't be happy with the ruling. This Wallaby side is the first in many, many, many years that can play right through you. Adding Skelton is is the cherry on the cake. Really, they've played the best rugby over the course of the RC, and come away with more growth than either New Zealand or South Africa, though New Zealand have a high ceiling.
Yep we created a lot of momentum for the Wallabies with our poor play. They now have belief and momentum.
If they play their cards right, they'll be a real force for some time. They remind me so much of the days of Horan. When the Wallabies can get over the gainline, you have massive problems. The closest they came to it before was under Deans, with Pat McCabe, but he was really a bit of a carthorse. The loss to New Zealand in the semi really said it all. Cheika's side with Kuridrani and AAC et al was lethal, but carried a glass jaw. As an admirer of traditional Wallaby rugby, it's great to see. Going over their film was enjoyable.
