Rugby World Cup 2023: Wallabies have final training session before flying out to France

As life beings under the Will Skelton regime at the Wallabies, it would be foolish to label him as just a gentle giants, as Australia prepare to head out to France for their ultimate test.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 16: Will Skelton (R) is seen during an Australia Wallabies training session at the Army Barracks on August 16, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

With Will Skelton, what you see is what you get.

The first thing that strikes everyone when they lay eyes on the Wallabies’ World Cup captain is just how big and imposing he is.

Standing over two metres tall and weighing over 140kg, he is a massive unit, by any standard.

The second thing is how quietly spoken he is.

He doesn’t go shooting his mouth off or trash talking his opponents. Truth be told, he keeps most of his thoughts to himself.

The lazy assumption is to label him a gentle giant, but that’s not right, because he’s a fierce competitor with a big dose of mongrel in him.

He’s not the sort of bloke you’d want to cross.

That’s partly why Eddie Jones picked him to lead the Wallabies at the World Cup in France.

Looking to rebuild a squad that has got too comfortable with losing all the time, Jones wanted a new leader so went for a left-field choice.

Skelton didn’t want the job but Jones persuaded him to take it, advising him to be his own person and lead through his actions on the field.

Eddie Jones opted for a new skipper to lead his young squad. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Reluctantly, Skelton accepted the offer but wants everyone to know he’s a novice and learning on the job.

“We‘re pretty open and transparent in this group,” Skelton said. “I’m not going to have all the answers as well.

“So we‘ll be leaning on each other and growing together and those decisions will be a team thing. Whatever’s best for the team.”

One of the responsibilities of being the Australian captain is having to front the media.

Of all the tasks that skippers get, being grilled by the press rates among their least favourite.

Skelton was spared a full inquisition when he was named captain last week because the squad was in the Northern Territory and Jones took most of the questions but he was front and centre when the Wallabies held a community farewell at Drummoyne on Wednesday.

“Speaking off the cuff is not my forte so I‘ll just try and grow into this role and embrace it,” he told the assembled press corp.

“I‘m just trying to be me. I think that was one of the problems when Eddie first called me. The only thing I could lean back on was my experience and the leaders that I had.

“I knew those guys weren‘t my style of leadership. I’m not a guy who will stand in front of a team off the cuff and inspire the whole team.

“I always just try and be myself. When I got this role, I never wanted to change and I believe in this first week I haven‘t done that. I’ve tried to be who I am and stick to that.”

So far so good.

His frank admission that his pre-match speeches could be shorter than the Gettysburg Address but less inspirational, is a sign of strength not weakness.

And around his teammates, Skelton is highly respected and admired.

The Wallabies fly out for the World Cup on Thursday. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

He led the team through their final training at Victoria Barracks on Wednesday before they fly out to France on Thursday.

Part of the reason he gets on well with the other players is because he keeps it light.

“I love those small conversations, I love having banter with the boys, having a joke,” he said.

“A thing I‘ve always done is ask how your family is, how you’re doing at home. Just the normal things.

“I‘ve been trying to do that around this group and just getting to know my players because I know if you’re better connected off the field, you’ll always perform better on the field.

“That‘s just who I am.”

Dismissed as no-hopers after failing to win a game in the rugby championships, the change of leadership – and high investment on youth – has got everyone second guessing how they will go in France.

If nothing else, Skelton is a believer. He’s been around long enough to read the tea leaves and he likes the generational changes that Jones has brought in.

“We‘ve got all the ingredients,” he said. ”We’ve got all the players, a young group who’s hungry to win and to make our fans proud.

“Anyone can win it.”

Originally published as Rugby World Cup 2023: Wallabies have final training session before flying out to France