'Not much of a talker': Skelton's surprise captaincy a result of 'trial and error'
Serial winner Will Skelton can barely remember the last time he captained a team, but isn’t shying away from leading the Wallabies at next month’s Rugby World Cup.
Coach Eddie Jones dumped veteran prop James Slipper from his co-captaincy gig and axed injured fellow leader Michael Hooper from his squad altogether, opting instead to hand the reins to 203-centimetre tall behemoth Skelton. Halfback Tate McDermott will be deputy.
Europe-based Skelton, who boasts a stack of titles with English club Saracens and his current French side La Rochelle, admits he lacks leadership experience and isn’t much of a talker, but was happy to answer Jones’s call.
“It’s very special, not just for me, but my family,” the 31-year-old said.
“Putting on the jersey is one thing and then to be named captain, selected by Eddie, is something I’ll never forget.
“What comes with that is a lot of responsibilities, a bit more pressure. It’s just about being myself, leading in the only way I can, which is through my actions.
“I’m not much of a talker around the team … it’s getting this group well connected for a hard slog.”
Jones said his captaincy options had been “trial and error” since returning as Australia’s coach.
He went with Slipper and Hooper as co-captains for the recent Rugby Championship, before McDermott led the side against New Zealand last weekend.
Allan Alaalatoa has also filled the role within the last year.
“Part of the job of taking over the team was to develop a leadership team that could take Australian rugby back to where we want to be, and that’s at the top of the world,” Jones said.
“There’s a bit of trial and error. We went with two experienced guys in Hoops and Slips, but unfortunately, Hoops got injured after one game so that was the end of that experiment.
“We’ve been looking at what is the right mix of people to captain the team … it’s more than captaining … Will’s a very good leader of men.”
Skelton recalled one previous captaincy experience, leading a Wallabies XV against the French Barbarians in 2016, a match his side lost 19-11.
He’ll form a fearsome lock pairing with either Richie Arnold or Nick Frost, leading a forward pack he believes can challenge the world’s best.
“We’ve got a lot of experience in our pack, some big men as well,” Skelton said.
“They love the physical battle, having that size and that power can go one of two ways – we can shy away from it or we can take it forward and step into that contact and that physicality.
“I’ve got no question we’ll be able to help these young boys in our team really go forwards.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Now 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
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to comments