About fifteen years after their meeting in Sydney, the two Wallabies met again this summer in Charente-Maritime. Together, they have experienced almost everything: success in Super Rugby with the Waratahs, a World Cup, some tasty clashes and an unexpected meeting a few months ago. The two colossi confide in these pieces of history between them, theirs.
Their first meeting
Kane Douglas : It must have been my first year of Super Rugby. During a practice, Will’s school team arrived. And there, wow: if you had added the weights of the two packs, theirs must have been thirty or fifty kilos heavier than us. They were all…
Will Skelton : (he cuts) We were big boys, that’s clear.
K. D. : All the guys in the pack had to each weigh over 100kg at 17 years old. And, in the middle, there was this huge guy. You still had the features of a baby. With a little mustache, it seems to me.
W. S. : I had a very small mustache, much finer than today. I already liked it (smile). At the time, we were preparing for a tournament in Japan. I remember there was an article in the newspaper with a photo showing our weights and those of the Waratah forwards. We actually weighed fifty or sixty kilos more than them. The photo can be found, I think. But at the time, we just crossed paths. We actually met three years later, in 2013, during the preseason. I was brand new, you were coming back from the Wallabies.
K. D. : Will did not go unnoticed. His potential was obvious. And then, it was a sponge! He soaked in everything he saw. I’m not surprised to see what he has become and everything he has accomplished.
The Super Rugby title in 2014
K. D. : What a beautiful memory. It must be said that it is my only title (smile). You had plenty. We had a hell of a team at the time. We were really equipped in the second line, in particular: there was you, me, Jacque Potgieter, Mitch Chapman.
W. S. : There was a lot going on between us but, in all cases, it hurt. We had even been lined up together a few times, I think.
K. D. : We used to encourage each other. Jacques was throwing some sort of challenge to see who could make the most tackles or whatever. And do you remember our little ritual before scrimmages? “Take a breath”
W. S. : “Take a deep breath and we’re ready to go”* (éclats de rire).
K. D. : It was a great season. We had won the last ten games or something like that. What a great feeling.
W. S. : And what a final against the Crusaders! We took the lead in the last minute and then there was this last dismissal before the siren. Wow ! It goes back ten years, it’s hot man (laughing).
K. D. : Everything had happened too quickly, it’s a shame. At the same time, lots of guys left for England, France… I would have liked us to stay together longer. I feel like two days after the finale, it was all over.
W. S. : We rewatched a few videos because there was the gathering for the tenth anniversary of the title. We weren’t able to go there unfortunately.
The 2015 World Cup adventure
K. D. : At the beginning of August, we didn’t know who would be in the group. In 2014-15 I went to Leinster and had an injury followed by back surgery at the start of the year. When I returned, I had gained eight kilos. I no longer fit into any of my clothes. I had traveled a lot in Europe, it must be said (laughing). Overnight, I received a phone call to tell me that I was summoned. The coach wanted me to come back from Ireland. It was still quite surprising to show up like that. I played twenty minutes off the bench against the All Blacks in New Zealand. I had a hard time during this preparation.
W. S. : We were pumped. It’s like you didn’t leave, actually. The selection was lucky to be able to get you back. It must be said that it was Michael Cheika, our coach at the Waratahs, who took charge of the Wallabies.
K. D. : It was huge to be selected. I won Super Rugby but this World Cup is above that. It’s the only one I fought.
W. S. : Didn’t you do the one before?
K. D. : They had taken Simmonds. I was too young. Or not good enough. In 2015, we spent some great weeks in Sydney, the United States and then England. There were plenty of Australians in London and Bath. And then, we had a string of victories… Until the final lost.
W. S. : We had been put in the pool of death with England and Wales.
K. D. : It had been pretty damn close. We must have beaten the Welsh 9 to 3 or something like that (15-6, N.D.L.R.). The team had defended again and again.
W. S.: “Hoops” (Michael Hooper) had been excluded, right?
K. D. :No, it was Dean Mumm and Will Genia. There were thirteen of us, there had been these scrums… I still get ants in my legs just thinking about it. I had played the whole match too. You were already no longer there.
W. S. : Yes, I was injured in the second match.
K. D. : What did you do to yourself again? Was it the shoulder?
W. S. : I tore my pectoral. Since I had done all the preparation, I felt like I was part of the adventure. I woke up early in the morning to watch you. I saw this match after my operation, I was in a daze.
Their “clash” in public
K. D. : (bursts of laughter) You know there’s a photo of that, right? What to say? It was in training, before the 2015 World Cup, during a mauls session. Will is particularly good at breaking them, I’m not telling you anything… Let’s say he tried to pass, I tried to stop him. I had my arm around your neck, you pushed my head away with your hand… or something.
W. S. : These are things that happen when you want to raise the slider. We seemed to be going hard but it wasn’t that bad. We had a good catch, that’s all.
K. D. : You know, when you are good partners, there is a “gentleman agreement” (an agreement in principle). It suited us both well. Even if, in the images, we looked very angry (smile).
W. S. : Cheika had pushed us to the side but that’s all he liked. It was old school. The best way to prepare to be aggressive in a match is to be aggressive in training.
K. D. : In the end, we shook hands, gave each other a hug and moved on. It was like that. It must be said that this preparation had been particularly tough.
W. S. : I remember the oppositions between the team which was starting and the one which was on the bench of which I was part. It was so fierce. The scrum sessions were even worse. There was Mario Ledesma doing weird things. He would climb to the top of the scrum and then go underneath (laughing).
K. D. : These Argentinian scrum coaches are really different.
W. S. : There was Patricio Noriega too…
K. D. : Oh ! Yes, he used to punch people in the chest. Until it hurts us. It was his way of motivating us. This kind of thing doesn’t happen much anymore…
Opponents then partners in Top 14
K. D. : I remember some of the guys on my team saying they hated Will Skelton: “Bloody Hell Skelton” they were repeating. It’s true that, from the outside, we tell ourselves that we prefer to be on our team than opposite them. I was still happy to meet you. Do you remember that I smiled at you before the scrimmages (smile)?
W. S. : I knew he was going to get me but I was also ready to seize the slightest opportunity to catch him (smile). The first time we played in Bordeaux, I remember that we had implemented something new in the lineup. His job was to get me out of mauls. After the first one, I told myself that the day was going to be difficult. But it was so much fun.
K. D. : It’s true that I love this kind of thing.
W. S. : That looks good on you. The meaning of sacrifice. Hang on.
K. D. : The problem with Will is that he’s not just big and strong. He is also intelligent. But hey, now we’re together.
W. S. : It happened quickly. He texted me at the end of last season to say he might sign here. What a surprise that had been.
K. D. : Yes, it was late. I only signed the week of the semi-final.
W. S. : I didn’t even think we were going to recruit a second line. At the club, I was asked what kind of player “Dougie” was and what he could bring to the team. I have nothing but praise for him: “A good rugby player and a great partner.” It’s great to play with each other again. The last five weeks have been great. It’s so cool to play together again, like back then. And then there was Tolo (Lat) Also. Everyone forgets him but he played with us, all the big Waratahs matches; and with the Wallabies too.
K. D. : Personally, I was quite surprised to have this opportunity in La Rochelle. I didn’t feel finished but hey, I didn’t have a contract (smile). And then, it happened like this… I jumped at the chance. As soon as it came up, I sent Will a message. It was exciting. And I’m not disappointed. I like the mentality of this club. In Bordeaux, the team thought they could win; here she knows she can win. It’s different and I like it.
W. S.: It’s cool for us to be able to count on him. Selfishly, I love playing with Kane and I would have wanted him to come anyway. But beyond our friendship, his experience and his slaughter will be precious to us. He still has many good years ahead of him. Another year or two. Honestly, you could play until you’re 40, man (smile).
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