“A Different Beast Awaits: Ollie Chessum Faces Biggest Challenge in Rival Skelton”

The British & Irish Lions are gearing up for a massive test against the Australian Wallabies at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) this weekend. The visiting dressing rooms at the MCG are spacious, but the vast expanse of the field and the roar of the 90,000-strong crowd will be a daunting challenge for the Lions. For Ollie Chessum, making his first Lions Test start, this is a game like no other.

Chessum, a 24-year-old forward, has come a long way since his days at Carre’s Grammar School in Sleaford, where they barely had enough players to form a rugby team. He was even told he wasn’t good enough by Leicester at 18, but he persevered and eventually earned a professional contract back at the Tigers. His journey has been marked by ill-timed injuries, but he has consistently refused to back down, earning him the admiration of coaches and his teammates.

The Wallabies, however, are not to be underestimated. Led by the mountainous Will Skelton, who hits harder than a St Kilda-bound tram, the Australian team is motivated and ready to throw everything at the Lions. Skelton, who sat out the first Test with a strained calf, is expected to bring a physical edge to the game. “He is just a huge human being… you try stopping someone who is almost 150 kilos,” Chessum said, recalling his experience of playing against Skelton in a Champions Cup match with Leicester away at La Rochelle.

Despite the intimidating presence of Skelton, Chessum is undaunted. He credits former coach Michael Cheika, who taught him the power of collective belief. “If you don’t believe, you won’t go anywhere,” Cheika said. “And if you do believe, you can do things you never imagined.” Chessum has taken this mantra to heart, and it has become a guiding principle for the Lions as they face the Wallabies.

The Lions are aware that the Wallabies will be drawing on every emotional aspect of the game they can. They are 1-0 down in the series, but they are at the MCG, in front of their fans, with the series on the line. The home crowd will be a significant factor, but the Lions are confident in their ability to rise to the challenge.

“We knew from then on that the tone was set, for us and for them,” Chessum said, referring to the first Test. “I expect no different this week; in fact, I expect it to go up another level.” The Lions are in no mood to be pushed around, and they are ready to put their collective belief into practice. They are confident in their ability to take on the physical edge that Skelton and the Wallabies will bring.

The bigger the challenge, the more Chessum loves it. As the Lions prepare to face the Wallabies at the MCG, they are in no mood to be intimidated. They are ready to take on the physical battle and emerge victorious. The stage is set for a massive showdown, and the Lions are ready to take on the challenge.