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‘Didn’t think it was an option’: Captain Skelton reflects on World Cup journey
Four years ago, it seemed like Will Skelton was going to be the one who got away for Rugby Australia, the Wallabies and their fans.
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Skelton was being put through his paces during a gruelling pre-season with Premiership club Saracens as the Wallabies prepared to take on the rugby world in Japan.
With coach Michael Cheika at the helm, the Wallabies were sent packing in the quarter-final stages after being bested by fierce rivals England in Oita.
The Wallabies were hurting, and so were their fans. They’d have to wait another four years for a shot at redemption.
Finally, that time has come.
Two days out from their World Cup opener in France, coach Eddie Jones sat down in front of reporters with his newest Wallabies captain by his side.
That man is Will Skelton.
“It’s a long time ago. I was doing pre-season with Saracens at the time and watching the boys get through that tournament,” Skelton told reporters on Thursday.
“I didn’t think it was an option to be available to play in this World Cup, so I am very lucky and blessed to be in this position.
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“It’s a massive responsibility but I’m extremely well supported, I’ve got a great leadership group and coaching staff who back me. It’s about getting the job done.
“It’s very special for myself and my family and I’m looking forward to leading these boys.”
The makeup of this Wallabies squad looks entirely different to the team that eyed the sport’s top prize in Japan. 25 of the 33 players selected by coach Jones will make their World Cup debuts in 2023.
Coach Jones has taken that one step further, too, by picking the most inexperienced Wallabies outfit at a World Cup since Australia vs Namibia in 2003 – that was also coached by Jones.
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The Wallabies take on Georgia on Saturday evening at Stade de France, and coach Jones has picked a matchday 23 with less than 350 Test caps between them.
“There are no advantages or disadvantages, it is just our best team,” Jones said.
“It is 20 years since Australia has picked a young team like this. It shows a changing of the guard. This is a new team that wants to take Australian rugby forward.
“We want to play a game that enthuses people in Australia to want to follow the Wallabies again.
“We have dropped down the rankings in national sports teams. We want to be a team that everybody in Australia admires and respects and can’t wait to see us play, and this group of young men have the opportunity to do that.
“For such a young team, the way they have conducted themselves has been absolutely first-class, and Will has done a great job as captain.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
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