A gigantic challenge against the smarting All Blacks is set to see the strife-torn Wallabies settle on a giant of a solution – Will Skelton.
The 140kg second rower is expected to be revealed as a shock starter for Australia when the Wallabies team for this weekend’s dead-rubber Bledisloe Test is named on Tuesday.
The NSW Waratahs’ cult figure ran with the main team – beside fellow lock James Horwill – at an open Wallabies training session in front of a few hundred fans at Ballymore on Monday afternoon.
Skelton is set to be one of two changes to the starting 15 which lost 21-17 to Argentina nine days ago in Mendoza, an inglorious defeat that has seen Australia drop to No.4 on the world rankings and has coach Ewen McKenzie’s success rate at a low 52 per cent.
Brumbies playmaker Christian Leali’ifano, who hasn’t played a minute of Test rugby this season, will start at inside centre at Suncorp Stadium with Matt Toomua ruled out due to concussion and Kurtley Beale suspended indefinitely.
But it’s the selection of Skelton which will raise most eyebrows, especially as Rob Simmons and Sam Carter – who started this year’s opening two Bledisloe Tests – are now fighting for a spot on the bench.
Lineout general Simmons missed the Pumas defeat due to a head knock and it was assumed he’d replace either Horwill or Carter.
Having his two biggest locks starting, instead of the more mobile and industrious Carter and Simmons, means McKenzie is looking for muscle and an attacking impetus to unsettle the world champion Kiwis.
Skelton, who starred in his Test debut against France in June, had been a reserve in the 12-12 Bledisloe draw in Sydney in August and the 51-20 loss a week later in Auckland, but was sent back to the NRC to improve his fitness.
New Zealand are coming off a 27-25 defeat to South Africa in an epic Test in Johannesburg, ending a 22-month unbeaten streak, and will be highly motivated to take their frustrations out on Australia.
Although the Wallabies appear rank underdogs following a week of turmoil, brought about Kurtley Beale’s texting scandal, vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper is still adamant they can beat their arch-rivals to split the Bledisloe series.
Ashley-Cooper said his 100-Test milestone had also been made more special due to the opposition on Saturday night.
“I wouldn’t ask for anyone different,” Ashley-Cooper said.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has been coy about whether Aaron Cruden would return from suspension at No.10 in place of Beauden Barrett.
But veteran centre Conrad Smith, rated by Ashley-Cooper as his most respected opponent, has been cleared of a head knock in a major boost.
