"Go hard." Those two words came back to bite ACT Brumbies No.8 Fotu Auelua in this year's Super Rugby semi-final as NSW Waratahs giant lock Will Skelton did exactly that when he came off the bench to set up a crucial try for the Tahs.
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Canberra Vikings captain Auelua joked he would not make the same mistake again when he faces Skelton and his National Rugby Championship team, the Sydney Stars, at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.
The pair's mothers are cousins, making Auelua and Skelton second cousins.
As they both came off the bench and ran onto ANZ Stadium earlier this year, Auelua said those fateful two words, in Samoan.
Soon Skelton embarked on a powerful run, breaking two or three tackles before off-loading for Bernard Foley, who scored the match-sealing try.
It was no coincidence Auelua was sent out at the same time as Skelton. The Brumbies hopied his 115 kilograms could help stop the 203-centimetre, 140kg man mountain.
Auelua said Skelton was more than just a ball carrier. He had good sleight of hand as well.
"[Skelton is] a game breaker," Akuelua said. "It's not going to be easy, but you're always up for the challenge.
"Big [208cm and 130kg lock] Rory Arnold is on the bench, so it'll be interesting to see those two go at each other.
"[Skelton is] a big lad, you just look at him and he makes you feel like a midget."
The Vikings have named five new faces for the game against the winless Stars.
Arnold, prop Joel Penders, scrumhalf Joe Powell, outside back Drew Southwell and Australian Sevens winger Lausi'i Taliauli are all in the 23. Wallabies Christian Leali'ifano and Joe Tomane were unavailable.
Openside flanker Sean Doyle comes into the starting side in place of Jarrad Butler.
Doyle has joined the Brumbies on a two-year deal and said he was excited at the chance to test himself against the likes of Skelton.
He hopes to press his case for making his Super Rugby debut next year.
"I haven't got tangled up with [Skelton] yet so we'll see," Doyle said. "He's a fantastic player and he's done great things this year.
"He'll be a threat just as any of the rest of their team are.
"It's the only way to gauge where you're at is to go full-on into it, that's what I'll be aiming to do in the game 'cos there's no better way to see where you're at.
"It's not going to be as quick as next year, but it won't be far off and it will be a good stepping stone towards it."
Vikings team: 1 J.P. Smith, 2 Lala Lam, 3 Allan Ala'alatoa, 4 Tim Cree, 5 Jordan Smiler, 6 Jarrad Butler, 7 Sean Doyle, 8 Fotu Auelua, 9 Michael Dowsett, 10 Isaac Thompson, 11 Robbie Coleman, 12 Rod Iona, 13 Nigel Ah Wong, 14 Jerome Niumata, 15 Jesse Mogg. Subs: 16 Mitch Wade, 17 Joel Penders, 18 Les Makin, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Rory Arnold, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Drew Southwell, 23 Lausi'i Taliauli.
