Wallabies relying on Skelton and Valetini to save the series against the British and Irish Lions
If that doesn't work for the Wallabies in the second test on Saturday, then the following week in Sydney becomes little more than a victory lap for the Lions and their 40,000 touring Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh supporters.
At 6'8″ (203 centimeters) and 140-plus kilograms (310 pounds), the France-based Skelton certainly adds significant size and weight to a Wallabies pack that was outgunned in the 27-19 loss to the Lions last weekend in Brisbane. Valetini brings the extra firepower.
'You get a lot of confidence when you have two people with their experience and their presence coming (back) into your side,' Wallabies captain and No. 8 Harry Wilson said Friday. 'They're two real leaders in the group and to have them back, in such a big match, is really exciting for us.'
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt spoke about Skelton's on-field calmness and wealth of experience in Europe being of huge importance to the Australian team when he announced a squad this week that contained three changes to the forward pack, none in the backline and a 6-2 split of forwards and backs on the bench.
Opening salvos
The Wallabies are expecting another physical contest up front at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where a crowd exceeding 90,000 people is expected and there's a chance of rain.
Wilson said his lineup needs to fight fire with fire from the kickoff rather than let the Lions out to a big lead like they did in the series opener, which was 24-5 after 42 minutes.
The Australians also need to give a young backline, particularly 22-year-old flyhalf Tom Lynagh and 21-year-old center Joseph Aukuso-Sua'ali'i, some front-foot ball to generate better attacking opportunities.
'We want to go out there, we want to oppose ourselves physically, we want to back our skills and we just want to go out and start fast,' Wilson said. 'The 6-2 bench means … more reason to go out there, throw your body around knowing there's some quality bench players to come and finish.'
Pressure on
Andy Farrell's 2025 squad is determined to join the Lions greats by winning the series 3-0, regardless of how the head coach has tried to downplay that objective.
'They want to wrap up the series and we want to keep the series alive, so there's no doubting there's a lot on the line for both teams,' Wilson said. 'There's a lot of pressure on, and it's what you love about it.'
The Lions have won the opening test in the last two series Down Under — in 2001 and 2013 — and lost the second test in Melbourne. In '01, the Australians won the deciding match for an historic series victory in Sydney. The Lions won the third test in Sydney 12 years ago to reclaim the trophy.
'We have put ourselves in a good position after the first test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team,' head coach Andy Farrell said as he announced a Lions starting lineup containing three changes. 'We will have to be a lot better than we were last week.'
Owen Farrell, a late inclusion in the squad and making his fourth Lions tour, was added to the bench after leading the team to a win over the First Nations and Pasifika squad on Tuesday in their last mid-week game of the tour.
Ireland midfielder Garry Ringrose was a late exclusion from the second test starting lineup after reporting symptoms of concussion, allowing Huw Jones to retain his spot at outside center in new midfield combination with Bundee Aki.
England's Ollie Chessum was drafted in to partner skipper Maro Itoje as a replacement for injured Ireland lock Joe McCarthy, and Andrew Porter replaced Ellis Genge at loosehead, giving the Lions an all-Ireland frontrow.
The Lions are now 7-0 in Australia, including the victory in the first test and wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force,
Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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