Partnered in the cage for the first time in ten years, the Australian duo composed of Kane Douglas and Will Skelton is not for nothing in the good performance of a pack rejuvenated by international events.
Did they say they would meet in ten years, a certain July 12, 2014, the day of their eighth and until then last association to date in the second line? So go figure. A decade after their promising team in the Waratahs jersey, although never reformed in a starting XV by the Wallabies, Kane Douglas and Will Skelton therefore did it again on Saturday evening at Deflandre. The first titular city in 4, the second in 5. That is to say the opposite of the time, except that the younger was positioned on the right, in a closed scrum, already.
The burst of pride of the maritime front eight, largely within its usual standards since the start of the season but shaken up a week earlier in Montpellier, the two Australians are anything but strangers. Guardians of the temple within an amputated pack of Atonio, Bourgarit, Wardi, Alldritt, Boudehent, to name but a few, but which, apart from this building swaying in the 27th minute, kept its Parisian counterpart in check. Until nibbling three penalties – the third without Skelton – on opposing introduction (16th, 52nd, 80th).
“A nice historical nod”
“We are very happy to have these two golgothsimage number 8 Matthias Haddad-Victor. It helps the first line a lot and for us it’s easier to push.” Feeling validated by left pillar Alexandre Kaddouri, almost 21 years old: “Honestly, they went hard! It's nice when both of them go hard, you feel it. When you have Kane on your ass, it's nice.”
Beyond the high tonnage of this found cage sits an extraordinary experience for such a rejuvenated pack. Douglas-Skelton represents more than six hundred professional matches in total. “Well, after that, with their Australian accent, we don’t understand anything”Haddad-Victor laughs, imitating them. “But it’s great (this reunion, Editor’s note) ! They had anticipated this scenario, it was certain that after a while in the year, they would have to play together. It’s a nice historical nod.”
“It's been ten years, you say? Wow, I didn't knowcontinues forwards coach Donnacha Ryan. It’s a beautiful marriage, both of them! I really like the quality of training since Kane arrived. It’s a lot more competitive on both sides of the second line.” So if in addition Skelton starts scoring in a winger position to bring competition in behind… Like at Dillyn Leyds. “Everyone laughed when he scored the try (71st), the South African laughs again. He’s a good wingman, very fat, 150 kilometers, the heaviest wingman in the world!” His opponents already have enough to do in the cage.
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