WHY BIG WILL SKELTON IS ONE OF A KIND

Good luck trying to stop the heavyweight Wallaby lock, says ALEX GOODE

- By ALEX GOODE

THERE ARE plenty of heavy players in rugby but none make the impact of Will Skelton. At 6ft 8in and over 140kg, his size makes him very hard to stop in contact, whether carrying ball, making dominant tackles or clearing rucks. The difference he makes to Australia and La Rochelle is immeasurable as he impacts the whole group around him, giving them belief. I've looked at three ways in which my former Saracens teammate bosses the game...

1 MAUL DOMINANCE

Skelton's technique and weight make him a huge asset in the maul.

His ability to be at the front of mauls and blast a way forward is unparalleled. Even when he is targeted, he can take multiple players out of the maul to give his forwards a better chance.

We see this below in the 2022 Champions Cup final; Skelton, having initially been a lifter in the lineout, occupies three Leinster defenders after the maul is formed and allows the rest of the La Rochelle pack to drive over easily for a try by Pierre Bourgarit.