Polynesian power means Wallabies will not lie down any longer

Nemani Nadolo of the Crusaders is tackled by Tolu Latu and Will Skelton of the Waratahs, who fired a World Cup warning shot at the weekend. Photo / Getty Images

The Waratahs - or make that big Will Skelton - fired World Cup warning shots across the bows of the Crusaders in Sydney.

A pack full of All Black stalwarts couldn't fire back sufficiently, despite a couple of impressive rolling mauls. After years of being embarrassed by All Black muscle, a message came through from the Aussies in Sydney. They are not going to lie down any more and have the strength to fight back.

Skelton was both a disgrace and a beacon for the Wallabies, as he went on a personal crusade of cheap shots against Richie McCaw and co. On one hand, the giant Auckland-born lock must be condemned for the blindside attacks on McCaw and Sam Whitelock. On the other hand, he bullied the Crusaders who didn't really fight back.

The tide has been turning in transtasman rugby matters. Polynesian power is finding its way to the top in Australian rugby, encouraged, I believe, by Michael Cheika, the Wallaby coach who is in his final season in charge of the champion Waratahs. Players such as Skelton and Israel Folau are the portent of big men capable of running over opponents, something lacking in Australia's game for too long.

This revolution has already taken place in the NRL, where the top league coaches would be bemused and bewildered by the pockets of racist views in this country about Polynesian footballers.

The day is fast approaching when Wallaby teams will be dominated by the amazing athleticism and power of Pacific Island and Aboriginal players, and that is the day when unbridled All Black dominance will be gone forever.

Cheika is the fox who was put in charge of the chickens. Robbie Deans' great mistake as Wallaby coach was not to promote or an inability to find power footballers.

After a rapid promotion because of the Ewen McKenzie flop, Cheika doesn't appear to be a man who will make the same mistake.

Who knows whether Cheika told Skelton to so obviously shake up the Crusaders, or whether the 140kg colossus had a rush of blood. But there was no mistaking his intent and the way he effortlessly manhandled his opposite Whitelock somehow expressed a growing rugby confidence across the Tasman.

Skelton turned into a cross between Dennis the Menace, Steven Seagal and Andre the Giant. His mission included:

a) Smashing McCaw in the back, felling and dazing the All Black captain on the pretence of trying to charge down a Dan Carter kick, drawing a penalty. TV commentator Phil Kearns and Cheika tried to defend this as legitimate saying McCaw was blocking Skelton's path, but rugby would turn into a shambles if this was commonplace. (Kearns has his strengths but not being blinded by his love of the Wallabies and Waratahs isn't one of them).

b) Skelton bear-hugged Whitelock from behind and flipped him to the ground after the whistle, aided by Tolu Latu, in a move dangerous enough to correctly draw citings. Cheika claimed his players were trying to hold Whitelock up for a maul - yeah right.

c) Skelton confronted Whitelock and he then smashed the prone Crusaders forward with his shoulder. If there isn't a rule against this, there should be. No arms, shoulder charge tackles are rightly banned, and this was no different even if it did occur on the deck.

This was a fair old game, a vibrant match which previewed what should be a fantastic test season and the World Cup dramas to come. Steve Hansen's All Blacks have have been warned.