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'Down to my preparation': Skelton makes big admission after joining Wallabies

By AAP
(Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Hoping to impress against rugby powerhouse France, giant lock Will Skelton admits he has so far under-delivered in his Wallabies career.

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Skelton joined the Australia squad this week ahead of their weekend Test clash with Les Bleus at Stade de France and said he wanted to “lay some foundations” ahead of next year’s World Cup, which also take place in the European nation.

Since making his international debut back in 2014, the 30-year-old has only played 19 Tests – starting in six – with his career shift off-shore five years ago to England and then the French Top 14 competition contributing to this low figure.

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He did not don the gold jersey between 2016 and 2021 and said that last year, when he played a bench role in three Tests on the spring tour, was mostly spent getting up to speed with changes under new coach Dave Rennie.

But Skelton is hoping for more opportunities to prove his worth to the Wallabies.

“I don’t think I’ve been the happiest with my form coming to this national team, I don’t think I’ve played my best,” Skelton told reporters.

“It’s tough coming in just for three games but you see others doing it too, and they’re performing well, so that’s probably down to my preparation and getting it right for that week.

“Last year was a tough one – my first three or four days (with the squad) was all learnings, trying to get the detail down and then during the match it didn’t fall our way.

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“Hopefully I can work, trying to build the foundation for myself, trying to get all the cores nailed down to hopefully be available for next year.”

Playing week in, week out with his club side, the reigning European champions La Rochelle, against many members of the France squad, Skelton said the world No.2 outfit would provide formidable opposition.

“(Antoine) Dupont is the best player in the world, guys like Greg Alldrit, (Julien) Marchand are great over the ball – they’ve got talent everywhere across the field,” Skelton said.

“For us, it’d be trying to stick to our systems, being strong in defence and stay connected – that’ll be one of the main things this week.”

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He could find himself paired in the second row with Brumbies youngster Nick Frost, who at 206cm shades Skelton in height by three centimetres.

But with Skelton tipping the scales at 140kg, there is no contest in the weight department.

Skelton said he would kept an eye on Frost, one of the Wallabies’ best performers in last week’s 16-15 win over Scotland, and had been impressed with what he had seen so far.

“I watch Super Rugby too, he did really well (against Scotland),” he said of the 23-year-old, who made his Test debut in July against England.

“He’s rangy, athletic, physical; all the attributes for starting lock so hopefully I get to play with him in the next few games – he’s a great kid.”

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

8 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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