Rugby Championship 2023: Will Skelton ready to make up for lost time in Wallabies return

Will Skelton made his Test debut nine years ago, but has played just two World Cup games since. Now he returns to Wallabies camp as a grizzled veteran ahead of this year’s tournament.

Michael Hooper is one of five overseas-based players picked in the Wallabies squad. Picture: Getty

Eight years ago, as a hulking 23-year-old upstart, Will Skelton’s Rugby World Cup campaign was over after barely an hour on the field.

The then-Waratahs second rower played 10 minutes against Fiji, but tore his pectoral muscle midway through Australia’s group stage showdown with Uruguay.

Skelton was on a plane back to Australia while his Wallabies teammates had a nerve-wracking run to the final against the All Blacks.

The frustrating ending to his first World Cup experience sums up Skelton’s Test career to date.

He has been in and out of the side, dropped, seemingly exiled, and later recalled after some tremendous form in Europe for Saracens and La Rochelle.

A devastating pectoral injury ended Will Skelton’s first World Cup campaign back in 2015. Picture: Getty Images.

“I probably have had a lot of opportunity in the jersey and not taken the best step forward in my personal opinion, performance-wise,” the now 31-year-old said from Wallabies camp this week. “It’s a different opportunity to come over here and inject a bit of experience, a bit of wisdom.

“I’m older now and I see what I can add to this team going forward.”

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones sprung a few surprises when he named his squad on the weekend, with back rower Josh Kemeny tipped to cover a spot on the wing, and winger Dylan Pietsch backing up as a flanker.

What wasn’t a surprise was Jones’ selection of big, explosive and physically imposing players.

Skelton fits that mold perfectly.

At 203cm and 140-ish kilograms, Skelton has generally always been the biggest player on any field he’s stepped onto.

As a fresh-faced 21-year-old, he stood head and shoulders above everyone else when he represented the Waratahs against the touring British and Irish Lions at a sold out Sydney Football Stadium in 2013.

Skelton was one of the best on the field as La Rochelle mounted a comeback to beat Leinster in this year’s Champions Cup Final. Picture: Getty Images.

He was just a couple of games into his senior career then and didn’t look out of place. Big things were expected of him, but it took the Hills Sports High School student a few years to learn how to best use his size.

He could hardly have had a better place to learn than the sodden fields and grinding rugby played in Europe.

He returns to the Wallabies ahead of the Rugby Championship and World Cup as something of a grizzled veteran, even if most of his best work has been done out of the eye of the Australian sporting public.

“Being in this (Wallabies) environment, you’ve gotta be ready from the start,” he said. “The first sessions yesterday, you’ve gotta go live.

“You need to get your head around that. At club level you can ease your way into training, and you’ve got 20-odd games.

“Here it’s short and sharp, get in and get out. We need to make sure our detail is on point and that we’re training the best we can.”

After playing 18 times for the Wallabies between 2014 and 2016, Skelton didn’t see any Test match footy for five years before being recalled by Dave Rennie in 2021.

Skelton even makes The Rock look small. Picture: Getty Images.

He made cameos in last year’s disastrous end of year campaign which ultimately saw Rennie sacked, but has high hopes for the side under Jones’ command.

Given precious little time and Tests before the World Cup kicks off in September, Skelton says it’s a race to ensure everything is running smoothly.

“We’re all learning. It’s all new to us, and we’ve gotta fast-track everything Eddie wants us to take in,” he said. “I think we’ve got all the ingredients.

“Eddie’s selected a squad with youth, experience, and edge. That’s what’s needed to win the big games. We’ve got the cattle, it’s about putting it out on the training paddock and then executing.

“It’s exciting times for us. We’re rebuilding connections and relationships. That’s what’s going to take us to the next level.

“Edge is being tough, not letting guys go through in contact. It’s competing every set, every maul and scrum.”

THE GREAT UNKNOWN: WALLABIES SKIPPERS BACK FROM BRINK

—Emma Greenwood

Michael Hooper concedes he didn’t know what his future in a gold jersey would look like after leaving the team in Argentina last year but says he is “all in” after being named Wallabies co-captain with James Slipper for the Rugby Championship.

Coach Eddie Jones named the first co-captains in Wallabies history when revealing his 34-man squad for the Rugby Championship on the Gold Coast on Sunday.

Hooper, who holds the record for the most Tests as Wallabies captain with 68, will lead alongside James Slipper, who captained the team during the Rugby Championship in his absence and when Hooper returned to the national fold for last year’s Spring Tour following a two-month sabbatical to focus on his mental health.

Wallabies co-captain Michael Hooper speaks to the media after being announced in Eddie Jones' squad. Picture: Getty

Hooper said returning coach Eddie Jones had checked in with him before returning him to a captaincy role.

“I obviously have my history, particularly in the last 18 months, where it didn’t quite work out there,” Hooper said.

“I got back on the tour, got my feet on the ground and Wallaby jersey (back) and in and around how ‘Slips’ (Slipper) was captaining the team (during the Spring Tour) and found myself really loving it and really enjoying it.

“I’ve got something to offer this team, I’ve got a lot of experience and I hope that I can deliver that now.”

And Hooper, who will head to South Africa with the Wallabies later this week ahead of their first Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks in Pretoria on July 8, said he was “thrilled” for what the next four months, leading up to and including the World Cup, could hold.

“I was unsure what my position would look like in rugby at that point (when I left the tour last year),” he said.

“Now, I can’t wait to give everything I’ve got for this.

“I’ve got two kids at home - I want to be here. I want to get everything out of this next little chunk and I’m all in.”

Michael Hooper looks on after losing the Super Rugby Pacific Quarter Final with the Waratahs. Picture: Getty

Jones said the captaincy decision was not easy, with a lot of soul searching, though and consultation about the best way to go about things having gone into it.

But Jones wants to “change the Wallabies” and while both Slipper and Hooper have captained the team before, having them join forces would bring a “strong apex” to the group.

“We want to do things differently but better,” Jones said.

“And one of the things about any great team is that the heads (are) experienced.

“If you’ve played 120 Tests, or you’ve captained your country for 65 Tests, you’ve seen it all.

“You’ve got an idea of what you should do - and we don’t want to lose that - that’s what great teams are about.”

Slipper, who said he was rapt to have received the captaincy call from Jones, couldn’t think of a better player to lead alongside than Hooper.

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones with co-captains James Slipper (L) and Michael Hooper (R). Picture: Getty

Slipper has battled his own demons, having served a two-moth drug ban in 2018 after violations of the Rugby Australia illicit drugs policy, twice testing positive to cocaine while dealing with personal issues.

“My journey’s got plenty of ups and downs but I think the biggest thing out of today and moving forward is this group having an eye on what’s coming up,” he said.

“Individually I’m pumped but I’m more pumped for this team and what we can do.”

Hooper, who played his last game for the Waratahs earlier this month, is also focussed on the future - and not just the period up to the World Cup.

“I hope that I can deliver that (experience I have) now and leave something going forward for the group over the next little bit of time,” he said of his leadership this campaign.

“That would be a real goal of mine. It’s not a it’s not an individual thing here, it’s something that I certainly want to leave in the jersey going forward.”

EDDIE JONES NAMES FIRST WALLABIES SQUAD

—Emma Greenwood

Rugby’s Giteau Law is officially dead, with Eddie Jones naming five overseas players in his 34-man Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship.

Returning coach Jones, who also named co-captains for the first time in Wallabies history – with James Slipper joining Michael Hooper in the leadership role – applied to Rugby Australia (RA) for more than the normal three eligible overseas players able to be selected and won approval for five players to be picked.

RA’s Overseas Players Selection Policy replaced the previous “Giteau Law” in 2021 but national squads have generally stuck to just three overseas-based players.

But with the national coach able to apply to the body’s rugby committee for more than the normal three eligible overseas players in the case of extenuating circumstances, Jones and his selectors were granted five spots.

Michael Hooper is one of five overseas-based players picked in the Wallabies squad. Picture: Getty

Japan-based centre Samu Kerevi, winger Marika Koroibete (Japan), lock Will Skelton (France), Richie Arnold (France) and 76-Test veteran Quade Cooper (Japan) make up the quintet.

Kerevi is currently in the rehab group though and unlikely to take part in any of the Rugby Championship matches.

Jones has also named eight uncapped players in the group – Melbourne Rebels duo Carter Gordon and Josh Kemeny, Reds front rowers Matt Faessler and Zane Nonggorr, ACT Brumbies Tom Hooper and Ryan Lonergan and NSW Waratahs flyer and former Australia Sevens representative Dylan Pietsch.

Lock Richie Arnold is the final uncapped player in the squad, joining the group just over a week after winning the Top 14 with Stade Toulouse in France.

Samu Kerevi is a veteran presence in the Australian backline. Picture: Getty

Queensland Reds scrumhalf Tate McDermott has forced his way into the squad after being left out of Jones’ initial camp on the Gold Coast in April, while

Max Jorgensen, Tom Robertson, Izack Rodda and Corey Toole were not considered for selection due to injury.

Jones, who was reportedly still locked in meetings with selectors on Sunday morning just hours before the squad was announced, said it was one of the toughest squads he had had to pick.

“Getting selected in the squad is just the start, we’ve got to build the team now and that will require hard work and getting a little bit more out of everyone involved,” Jones said.

James Slipper has been named co-captain alongside Michael Hooper. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Test centurions Hooper (124 caps) and Slipper (127) will co-captain the team, with Jones praising the work they had done with the leadership group over the past six months.

“Michael and James are both world class players, strong leaders and embody what it means to be a Wallaby,” Jones said.

“They have worked hard with the leadership group since January, and it will be important they continue to have strong support from the players around them.”

Hooper, who holds the record for the most Tests as Wallaby captain with 68, said it was an honour to lead alongside Slipper.

“We’ve been having great discussions as a leadership group and wider squad throughout the year and there’s a really optimistic mindset as a collective heading into what’s a massive four months (ahead of the World Cup),” Hooper said.

James Slipper said: “I’m really proud to lead my country and am looking forward to working with Hoops and Eddie to bring this group together and win trophies.”

The squad will assemble on the Gold Coast on Sunday to prepare for their Rugby Championship opener against South Africa in Pretoria on July 8.

WALLABIES SQUAD

Forwards

Allan Alaalatoa (29, ACT Brumbies, 64 Tests)

Richie Arnold (32, Stade Toulousain, uncapped)

Matt Faessler (24, Queensland Reds, uncapped)

Nick Frost (23, ACT Brumbies, 9 Tests)

Matt Gibbon (28, Melbourne Rebels, 5 Tests)

Jed Holloway (30, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)

Michael Hooper (co-captain) (31, NSW Waratahs, 124 Tests)

Tom Hooper (22, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)

Rob Leota (26, Melbourne Rebels, 13 Tests)

Fraser McReight (24, Queensland Reds, 10 Tests)

Zane Nonggorr (22, Queensland Reds, uncapped)

David Porecki (30, NSW Waratahs, 10 Tests)

Pete Samu (31, ACT Brumbies, 32 Tests)

Will Skelton (31, La Rochelle, 24 Tests)

James Slipper (co-captain) (34, ACT Brumbies, 127 Tests)

Taniela Tupou (27, Queensland Reds, 47 Tests)

Jordan Uelese (26, Melbourne Rebels, 15 Tests)

Rob Valetini (24, ACT Brumbies, 30 Tests)

Backs

Quade Cooper (35, Kintetsu Liners, 76 Tests)

Lalakai Foketi (28, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests)

Carter Gordon (22, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)

Reece Hodge (28, Melbourne Rebels, 54 Tests)

Len Ikitau (24, ACT Brumbies, 26 Tests)

Marika Koroibete (30, Saitama Wild Knights, 51 Tests)

Ryan Lonergan (25, ACT Brumbies, uncapped)

Tate McDermott (24, Queensland Reds, 21 Tests)

Mark Nawaqanitawase (22, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Izaia Perese (26, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Suliasi Vunivalu (27, Queensland Reds, 1 Test)

Nic White (33, ACT Brumbies, 59 Tests)

Tom Wright (26, ACT Brumbies, 23 Tests)

Utility

Ben Donaldson (23, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests)

Josh Kemeny (24, Melbourne Rebels, uncapped)

Dylan Pietsch (25, NSW Waratahs, uncapped)

Rehab Group

Angus Bell (22, NSW Waratahs, 20 Tests)

Langi Gleeson (21, NSW Waratahs, 3 Tests)

Andrew Kellaway (27, Melbourne Rebels, 21 Tests)

Samu Kerevi (29, Urayasu D-Rocks, 41 Tests)

Jordan Petaia (23, Queensland Reds, 25 Tests)

Matt Philip (29, Melbourne Rebels, 27 Tests)

Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Fixtures

Wallabies v South Africa, 5:05pm SAST/1:05am AEST, Saturday 8 July at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

Wallabies v Argentina, 7:45pm AEST, Saturday 15 July at CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Wallabies v New Zealand, 7:45pm AEST, Saturday 29 July at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Wallabies v New Zealand, 2:35pm NZST/12:35pm AEST Saturday 5 August at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Originally published as Rugby Championship 2023: Will Skelton ready to make up for lost time in Wallabies return