Will Skelton beats the Saracens in the Champions Cup quarter-finals. Credit: AFP
While the European Cup seems to be forever in limbo, whether it be the format or the participating countries, some aspects are reassuringly familiar. When the tournament reaches its climax, the matches become exciting. And in recent years, Will Skelton seemed to be poking around.
The monolithic castle, the Auckland-born Australian international with Samoan roots, has appeared in three of the last four finals. In the history of this competition, which is now in its 28th season, only six players have participated in decisive matches for two different sides. Skelton pulled it off for both the Saracens and La Rochelle, his current employers.
For all its flaws and disappointments, the Champions Cup is an unforgiving environment that rewards excellence. Skelton seems to thrive on this. He is quick to point out that the Exeter Chiefs will be spurred on by emotion and that he has gone through hard days in Sandy Park with the Saracens. However, aside from a setback in Bordeaux on Sunday, Skelton will have a 30th win in 37 European Cup matches. Most predict a La Rochelle triumph that will send it crashing through to its fourth final in five years.
Master of momentum
Rugby union is often about controlling the rhythm and playing at a pace that suits your team's characteristics. Sheer size is, of course, a factor in Skelton's success. He is 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) tall and weighs about 22 lb 1 lb (140 kg). Tied up on the hard side of the La Rochelle scrum for Wini Atonio, 22nd holding 12 lb (145 kg), he helps convey terrifying power.
According to Opta, La Rochelle has taken 15 penalties in 38 bouts. goals scored in the Champions Cup this season — more than anyone else.
Scrum Penalties for your own bet in this season's Champions Cup | Data
Their flock traveled 125 meters with 41 maces. This average of three meters per passage is second only to the Union Bordeaux-Bègles.
Break the meters in this season's Champions Cup | Opta
dataThe game also has many subtleties. Usually a weightlifter, Skelton was used twice in the quarter-finals against the Saracens as a surprise lineout target. This week, the 30-year-old pondered what he has learned since joining La Rochelle in 2020.
Skelton and Weenie Atonio create a hefty double act. Photo: AFP
“It's a different style,” he said. “Sarris had huge line speed and great defense. We pride ourselves here at La Rochelle on defense and we probably don't have the best line speed in the world, but we definitely cater to the players we have. We have different strengths. Me and Wini [Atonio] are not always going to be on the front lines in the foot chase, but we do our best when we fight and when we tear. It is this balance in our team that is probably the difference from my time in Sarri.”
Balance is the key word when it comes to these huge second rows. France has Paul Willems, Romain Taofifenois and they are going to acquire Emmanuel Meafu, the Toulouse hippopotamus, through a residence permit. This allows them to prioritize speed as they complete the last five packs.
Calling Skelton an expert on stock scenes would be an oversimplification. La Rochelle boasts the world's leading spoiler group that includes Levani Bothia, Gregory Aldritt and Jonathan Danti. Pierre Burgari, Atonio and Skelton are just as devastating. As a team, La Rochelle don't mind being out of the ball because they know they will usually hold back the pace of the opposition's phase play by dominating the clashes. Their elite scavengers will most likely be fined soon.
Ronan O'Gara talked about «weakening» attacks, and Skelton is a key figure. Opta registers rucks hitting the defense and assesses how effective individual athletes are at fighting breakdowns. Skelton and Aldritt have the highest efficiency rating among players who have suffered 35 defensive breakdowns this Champions Cup.
The most effective ruck spoilers in the Champions Cup this season
A recent opponent explained how awkward it is to play Skelton head-to-head, not least because of the ripple effects caused by the massive cancer interference.
«When you can't go crazy or croc someone, he just fighting two men and leaving room for Bothia, Aldrit, Danti, Burgarit and all those guys,” he said. «If you don't hit him right, and you're a big guy yourself, you're not going to change him.
“It's not just about losses, although he can do them. Sometimes he'll leave like a purifier, maybe bring someone else along. All of a sudden you lost two, three, four players to one ruck when it was just him. You've lost offensive form and they have time to rebuild.
«He's a nightmare because if a clear is getting ready to hit him with all his might and he's moving, La Rochelle has other jackals that will extract profit.»
The Saracens gave up 12 attacking rucks in the quarter-final defeat against La Rochelle. Bothia received the most applause, with Aldritt usually causing trouble. Skelton, however, registered 13 defensive rucks. Nobody else in the game made more than 10, and he contributed five losses in various ways. Ironically, for such a big man it is sometimes difficult to gauge his impact.
At 27 minutes, he jumped on Botsia to strengthen the latter's jackal:
Skelton 1
Ten A few minutes later Skelton's own jackal had the Saracens knocked down and missed a penalty:
Skelton 2
In the 67th minute, Nick Isiekwe hit the loitering Skelton. This leaves room for Hayden Thompson-Stringer to swoop in and steal:
Skelton 3
Shortly after, Skelton backs up a crouched Ioan Tangu:
Skelton 4
Then, with less than five minutes to go , Skelton treats Maro Itohe roughly. He then joins the ruck and Tom Woolstencroft gets punished for punching Skelton in the face:
Skelton 5
Once they have won back possession, usually through a penalty kick and a one-time kick, La Rochelle is able to regroup. The principle is the same in attack. They want to control the rhythm and dictate the terms. Skelton also plays an important role in this process.
La Rochelle's first attempt against the Saracens is a prime example of how they control the growth line until their rivals are defeated. This clip shows the denouement. Look at Skelton at the beginning. For a second, it looks like Owen Farrell and Hugh Tizard could hold off Reda Vardy. Skelton then appears and charges into hand-to-hand combat. This creates a quick pass and Thavera Kerr-Barlow scores after wrapping Aldritt:
Fast forward to the start of the sweeping attack and Skelton kicks off what is traditionally the toughest area of the pitch. La Rochelle enters the field from the far touchline. Skelton takes the lead ahead of Jamie George and Marco Riccioni:
Skelton 6
La Rochelle away. Moments later, with the Saracens under their posts, George turns to his teammates and says «They're good when they're gaining momentum, aren't they?»
Skelton's frame allows him to slow things down when La Rochelle is in possession, for example, if they want to set up a running kick.
Exeter must somehow knock La Rochelle out of their rhythm, which will not easy, because Skelton often controls it.
Totem character
Skelton has a trait of anger on the pitch. He was sent off during his last European Cup appearance for the Saracens, and on Tuesday he spoke of a «battle» to maintain a confrontational mindset while controlling his aggression enough to stay on the pitch. “The heart of our game is physical,” Skelton said. «That will never change.»
Off the field, however, Skelton is laid-back and popular. This split personality makes him a galvanizing presence in most situations. Before last year's European Cup final against Leinster, in which Skelton beat a calf injury, O'Gara admitted: «I don't think you can overestimate what he will do for our team.»
Certainly. It's enough that Skelton inspired a famous victory and produced some amazing moments. Toward half-time, Leinster threatened to flank La Rochelle to score a goal. While Josh van der Flier leads here, Jimmy O'Brien is free at the near touchline:
Skelton leans across breaking through, grabbing Jamison Gibson-Park by the arm to clear the ball:
Skelton 7
Wayne Barnes couldn't have had a better view and is happy that Gibson Park picked up the ball before Skelton interfered:
Leinster should be content with a penalty and three points, not five or seven.
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Early in the second half, Skelton and Burgarit threaten to stall after chasing Bryce Doolin's long shot. Leinster went crazy after conceding a penalty:
Skelton, 8
Skelton scored 12 defensive rucks in 80 minutes, losing only 13 to Aldritt.
La Rochelle takes a corner and rips them apart. Track Skelton. He's a lifter:
The drive picks up speed as he exits, dragging three contenders with him: Andrew Porter, Ross Moloney and Jack Conan:
Naturally, when La Rochelle came back at Leinster 22 at the end of this match, throwing penalties in the scrum and maneuvering on the reference line, Skelton was an integral element. He finished the game with 17 carries, trailing only 22 to Aldritt. Skelton's surge almost crosses the line ahead of Arthur Retier winner:
When the La Rochelle celebration began in Marseille, Skelton leaned over to O'Gara and apologized for «walking a lot.» It's just a confirmation of how he chooses his moments. Skelton thanked O'Gara for stinging him in a healthier state. The Saracens also groomed Skelton after signing him in 2016, reviving a player who was in danger of not reaching his great potential.
O'Gara clearly relied on his own experience with Munster to instill La -Rochelle desire for the Champions Cup. Skelton also made up his own legend. Exeter have a daunting task ahead of them.
match images from BT Sport
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