1
Will Skelton becomes first Barbarians player to be sent off
By Kim Ekin
Giant Australian lock Will Skelton has become the first Barbarians FC player to ever receive a red card.
England were trailing 19-11 at the interval after a mixed first half consisting of a solitary try for Joe Cokanasiga.
The Barbarians led the try count 3-1 but they were reduced to 14 men after the 6 foot 8 inch Skelton was sent off for a shoulder to the head of Patrick Schickerling.
Skelton hit England rookie Schickerling with head high shoulder shot, although he made an effort to wrap and hold the Exeter Chiefs prop upright after the collision.
Ugo Monye observed wryly: "Two yellows in the #GallagherPrem final and Will Skelton gets a red for that. Not surprised at the confusion right now"
Skelton's selection has left the invitation side's French coach Fabien Galthie wondering why the big man isn't more of a regular fixture still for the Wallabies.
"Will is big and good and clever. I don't know why he is not an international player now - maybe they manage players in their country, and overseas maybe not - but in this case it is an opportunity for us because Will wanted to play with George Kruis," said Galthie.
"It is like a present for George because they played at Saracens years ago. It is a nice story."
Skelton did feature with a 19th cap for Australia in the loss to Scotland at Murrayfield last November, his first appearance in the green and gold for five years.
Skelton last month led La Rochelle to a 24-21 win against Leinster in the European Champions Cup Final in Marseille, in which he was outstanding.
Australian Jones, defending an unbeaten coaching record for England against the Wallabies, will be hoping to stretch his sequence to 11 straight wins over his home country by winning the July series 3-0.
French players make up 10 of the starting line-up, with captain Charles Ollivon back in international action after being sidelined during the championship with injury.
additional reporting PA and AAP
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Jasmine Joyce: 'We don't want to be the men'
3
French reports rule Michael Cheika out of Racing job
4
Duhan van der Merwe injury update leaves Andy Farrell with a dilemma
5
Latest Comments
They won’t be rested Ed. Gathie was forced to ditch that practice, by WR, LNR, or whoever, IDK.
It’s very simple and you obviously know this, they do what’s best for the athlete. Galthie is just doing his part in making sure they don’t break, you know, like a team effort.
Just as LNRs teams are.
Bottom lines? The players don’t get a lot of rest as their season is so long, yes, but Galthie can select any player he wants in an International window. You just have to ask yourself does Galthie want to select that player or ensure they are rested? You just need to stop being obtuse, and some French white knight guy, what you say is simply untrue.
Why not just word it properly?
Go to commentsI can see where you are coming from.
The ANZAC myth has been used by sports teams for years. Some to a greater degree e.g. the old Rugby League ANZAC test, some other sports will make passing reference in the advertising or commentary etc.
I don’t think the ANZACs (looking down from heaven) see themselves as sacred cows. I think they would rather see a game of rugby in their honour. What better time to hold a Bledisloe cup match?
ANZAC day is about both remembering the ANZAC’s sacrifice, and their descendants celebrating the freedom we have because of that sacrifice. If a Bledisloe ANZAC test was done in a tasteful way. I see no issue with it.
I don’t think rugby league deserved to host an ANZAC test as rugby league organisations encouraged their players not to go to WWI (Australia didn’t conscript for WWI).
Go to comments