Champion de Crespigny 'a psycho who loves contact'

BBC News

4 hours ago

Australia fans might have been expecting a Wallabies enforcer with Top14 experience to make an impact this series. But instead of La Rochelle lock forward Will Skelton, who is out injured, in comes flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny who joined Western Force from Castres.He starts in the six shirt on Saturday, hoping to hit the ground running on his Wallabies debut.It's something we've seen on previous Lions tours. A certain Israel Folau scored two tries on debut in 2013 and lock Justin Harrison went on to break Lions' hearts with the crucial line-out steal in the third Test in 2001.Champion de Crespigny has been described by Skelton as "a weapon, a gun and a tough so-and-so", by Fraser McReight as "a psycho who loves contact" and by his coach Joe Schmidt as "a real galvaniser of action".He starts alongside McReight at seven and captain Harry Wilson at eight in the absence of one of their most effective carriers Rob Valetini - who had started 47 of 50 matches before the recent Fiji Test.''Bobby V (as he's affectionately known) is a massive loss,'' says Wilson. ''He's been one of the in-form players in world rugby for quite a long period now.''We've all had to up our workload with Bobby out. He takes the tough carries for us week in, week out. You appreciate a bloke who can take on two or three people and get front-foot ball."It's not ideal when you're missing a player like him so everyone has to pick up 10%. But we're confident and in a very good place.''Schmidt confirmed that Valetini and Skelton will both be available for selection for next week's second Test in Melbourne.The Wallabies may be understrength on paper, but they'll sure be inspired.