Will Skelton to lead ‘ambitious’ Wallabies side against France
Towering lock Will Skelton will become the 87th captain of the Wallabies when he leads a youthful side into battle against Rugby World Cup hosts France on Sunday evening.
The Wallabies have started their new dawn under coach Eddie Joens with four losses from as many starts this year, but the Aussies will be desperate to turn that around against Les Bleus.
Led by star halfback Antoine Dupont, Les Bleus have been one of the form teams in Test rugby over the last four years – and they’re among the favourites to hoist the Webb Ellis Cup, if not the favourite.
On paper, it appears to be quite a daunting task for the Wallabies – but rugby isn’t played on paper. Coach Joens has picked a young matchday 23, and they’ll be full of belief going into the Test.
Captain Skelton will lead the new-look Wallabies side out onto the field at Stade de France, with 12 players in the matchday squad having played less than 10 Tests in their careers so far.
“We’ve had an impressive preparation for the Rugby World Cup this week,” coach Jones said in a statement.
“Improving our physical capacity has been a priority and our rugby fitness is rapidly improving and we will look to use it against France.
“To play against the tournament hosts in front of a massive crowd at the venue for the final is perfect preparation for us.
“We are a young side, who is ambitious and in the process of developing our game.”
Angus Bell will line up at loosehead prop alongside David Porecki and Taniela Tupou. That’s quite an all-star front-row, especially with Tupou – aka the Tongan Thor – returning from injury.
Toulouse lock Richie Arnold and La Rochelle enforcer Will Skelton will combine once again on Sunday. It’s potentially the biggest second-row pair in international rugby right now.
Coach Jones has named a familiar-looking backrow, with young guns Tom Hooper and Fraser McReight set to start on the flanks, and Rob Valetini at No. 8. This is the same loose forward trio that almost took down the All Blacks in Dunedin.
Halfback Tate McDermott and rising star Carter Gordon will combine in the halves for the third time. The pair showed plenty of promise during the thrilling defeat to New Zealand.
Lalakai Foketi will run out in Wallaby gold for the first time since last year’s Test match at the same venue. In that clash with Les Bleus, Foketi scored a World Rugby Try of the Year contender.
Foketi will partner Jordan Petaia in the centres. Outside of the midfield is former NRL star Suliasi Vunivalu on the left, Mark Nawaqanitawase on the right, and Andrew Kellaway out the back.
Black Schoupp and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa are both in line to make their Test debuts off the bench.
This match is set to get underway at Stade de France in Paris at 5.45 pm on Sunday, or 1.45 am on Monday for those watching on Stan Sport back in Australia.
Wallabies team to take on France
- Angus Bell
- David Porecki
- Taniela Tupou
- Richie Arnold
- Will Skelton (c)
- Tom Hooper
- Fraser McReight
- Rob Valetini
- Tate McDermott
- Carter Gordon
- Suliasi Vunivalu
- Lalakai Foketi
- Jordan Petaia
- Mark Nawaqanitawase
- Andrew Kellaway
Finishers
- Matt Faessler
- Blake Schoupp*
- Zane Nonggorr
- Matt Philip
- Rob Leota
- Langi Gleeson
- Issak Fines-Leleiwasa*
- Ben Donaldson
Comments on RugbyPass
Who listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
40 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
40 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
39 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting 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.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 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.
4 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.
40 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to comments