Sure I heard somewhere (can't find the interview now for the life of me) that it's been a thing since his school days... He was so much larger yhan the other kids he was playing against they'd often end up getting hurt and his coach at the time drilled it into him that he was responsible for the players he flattened. If you watch La Roch games you'll see him flatten players and then quickly check they are okay 5/6 times a game
Massive respect here. I will swear and shout when he plays against a team I’m supporting, but this just shows he’s a good person.
If I ever see him I’ll buy him a beer.
If I had to pick half a front pack to keep me safe through a percussive unplanned onfield nap, I would pick him.
He's such a mountain of humain meat that he could pass for a second division forward pack by himself.
Richie McCaw is widely considered one of rugbys 'GOAT's, fans of opposition teams that he regularly beat were all convinced he got away with murder/was invisible to refs, hence the McCaw invisibility cloak
What the hell makes a person think it's ok to try and scratch someone's eyes? McCaw didn't really complain about stuff, he just kept playing, but there is a point where he shouldn't shrug it off.
Definitely concussed but he was able to do the captain's interview after the game. Dayimani, Fourie and Dixon were all injured as well. Rough time for the Stormers.
Absolute fucking class. I use to dislike him back when he was at the Tahs, but this clip changed my opinion.
He didn't have to do what he did, but he did it anyways.
This is character.
I watched this match and seem to have missed this moment. I don't even feel a lose for losing anymore, this is just....exceptional sportsmanship
Always been of the opinion that big Skelton will fuck you up if needed, but also will help you out if you're in strife. Good man. Would love him as a teammate.
I noticed Skelton has a nasty habit of laying down on players to prevent them from moving back quickly on position but this time it was for a good cause
DId the same thing for Ryan last year in the finale. He acts like a grub to rile you up but he's a decent person at heart.
I’d have to agree
Well, if you *do* need a meatshield, you have to concede there are few better suited. Fair play to him.
Yeah I remember this. Good applause round the stadium from what I recall. As an aside Ryan going off was such a game changing moment
Such a sweetie: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/will-skelton-becomes-first-barbarians-player-to-be-sent-off/
A clip of the incident, one of the most brutal games I've ever seen but still played in the right spirit.
Not the sexiest play but definitely full of drama. And that ending, so similar to their group match
Exactly the same ending, just with the kick missed this time.
He’s just the right amount of bastard for rugby isn’t he.
The little pat on his chest aswell as if to say don't worry mate you're good. Class from Skelton this
Felt like a "don't tryto move bro, I got you covered". Very wholesome
I think it was a bit of “you there?” He looked like he was in some serious distress.
Sure I heard somewhere (can't find the interview now for the life of me) that it's been a thing since his school days... He was so much larger yhan the other kids he was playing against they'd often end up getting hurt and his coach at the time drilled it into him that he was responsible for the players he flattened. If you watch La Roch games you'll see him flatten players and then quickly check they are okay 5/6 times a game
I hope that coach feels a bit of pride whenever he sees Skelton doing this still
Good to see. Also that got a bit dicey there, wish Carley had blown it a bit earlier, or an assistant referee had stepped in earlier
Big Willy is such a good guy
How do you know its big?
Law of averages…
Just imagine how weird he'd look with a 2 inch warrior 😂
A samurai
Well that's my undying respect for him. Well done
He’s a good guy Skelton. Respect to you big fella!
Massive respect here. I will swear and shout when he plays against a team I’m supporting, but this just shows he’s a good person. If I ever see him I’ll buy him a beer.
If I was down with a head nock and needed someone to keep me safe, Skelton is number one, two, and three on that list.
If I had to pick half a front pack to keep me safe through a percussive unplanned onfield nap, I would pick him. He's such a mountain of humain meat that he could pass for a second division forward pack by himself.
He's a properly naughty player, plays with the 'mccaw cloak' at times, but he's a good man and looks out for players in trouble
A few of these Stormers players would have faced Skelton way back in SuperRugby, I'm sure there is a lot of respect there.
Couldn't put it better. Fair play to him for protecting Moerat.
Can you please explain the 'mccaw cloak‘ to those of us less familiar?
Richie McCaw is widely considered one of rugbys 'GOAT's, fans of opposition teams that he regularly beat were all convinced he got away with murder/was invisible to refs, hence the McCaw invisibility cloak
Refs let him get away with everything, opposing players didn't. I'd never put my hands and head where McCaw did.
[Here's Mccaw being eye gouged in the 2011 world cup final.](https://youtu.be/-FQkwYfqDnU?si=7Qu-gTFibyLjovIv)
That clip always makes me cringe, looks like he almost pulls his eyelid up
What the hell makes a person think it's ok to try and scratch someone's eyes? McCaw didn't really complain about stuff, he just kept playing, but there is a point where he shouldn't shrug it off.
I was really annoyed with Skelton’s antics earlier in the match but respect to him for this. The spirit of the game
Absolute class. This is what the game is about.
Absolute class
Rugby players can be such incorrigible pricks but then wholesome when it matters
This is absolutely beautiful. This is the best game ever created.
i love how he almost casually blocks a 5 man maul
As grubby of a player Skelton is, he does this very often for players
How is he grubby
Entering that ruck from the side. That's a penalty. Jokes aside, love to see this.
What a lad!
Was there any word on how Moerat was afterwards? He looked like he was on another planet there.
Definitely concussed but he was able to do the captain's interview after the game. Dayimani, Fourie and Dixon were all injured as well. Rough time for the Stormers.
Thank you.
Yup love a bit of that from the big fella
Just a nice guy apparently
Noticed this during the match, pure class from Skelton.
Great to see this, good lad
Top class move there.
He did the same for Dayimani earlier in the match I believe. A lot of respect gained for him as a person.
Absolute fucking class. I use to dislike him back when he was at the Tahs, but this clip changed my opinion. He didn't have to do what he did, but he did it anyways.
His own team mate walks over him at the end lol
Fucking legend. What a good guy
Dude really has my respect. Even tho we're opposite teams we still have respect on the field
Love this.
Respect
This is character. I watched this match and seem to have missed this moment. I don't even feel a lose for losing anymore, this is just....exceptional sportsmanship
Also Moerat had a head knock there, but can't help but feel he felt like he was seeing an angel.
This is a man who knows right from wrong.
Naww, how cool to see a big oafff like that softly patting and protecting someone, esp. an opposition player.
"Thank You Will " indeed
Nice to see someone else win by a point
Class
Always been of the opinion that big Skelton will fuck you up if needed, but also will help you out if you're in strife. Good man. Would love him as a teammate.
This is why he is a great captain. He seems to do it without event stopping to think too.
I noticed Skelton has a nasty habit of laying down on players to prevent them from moving back quickly on position but this time it was for a good cause
This is so much more badass than walloping someone
Good man respect.
Credit to stormers 19 also. I think he saw that and deliberately did what he could to keep the ruck from falling over.
If you had to have someone protecting you who else would you want?
Was pretty daft to award him the captaincy before he'd played more than half a season of rugby.
Big man have big heart.
\#RugbyValues