Wallabies Rugby World Cup 2023 captain and La Rochelle superstar Will Skelton is one of the biggest stars in world rugby, both figuratively and literally.
At 6’8″ and 150kg, the powerhouse secondrow has been a key figure in La Rochelle’s rise to the top of European club rugby.
Dismantling Leinster in the past two finals with his immense physicality, Skelton’s return for the defending champions has been timely as they are in the midst of a tight battle with URC side the DHL Stormers.
Coming back from 13 points down at half-time, Ronan O’Gara’s side now lead 17 – 16 with just under twenty minutes to play.
For the Stormers, the match has been a horror show on the injury front, as they are now down to bare bones and out of substitutions.
Adding to their woes was a nasty accident involving their captain, Salmaan Moerat, and Skelton.
Bracing to stop Skelton, Moerat got his head on the wrong side of Skelton’s knee and took a heavy hit.
Fortunately, the secondrow left the field on his own as he headed for a head injury assessment.
Whilst the incident was a tough watch, Skelton’s incredible sportsmanship shone through.
Noticing immediately that Moerat was in trouble, Skelton used his otherworldly strength to block the next ball carrier and tackle the situation from falling on Moerat.
Not only did he stop another impact on his opponent, but he immediately signalled to the medical team, who continued to check in on him and ensure he was alright.
Given how quickly the action was moving, it was incredible to see Skelton’s awareness of and care for his opponent.
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