‘The body was struggling’: How a break has left Skelton eager to hunt Lions

It wasn’t framed as a long-term strategy but giant lock Will Skelton hopes a decision to sit out the Rugby Championship this year will help him be fit and firing for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions in 2025.

Skelton confirmed his desire to get a second crack at the Lions next year after this week re-joining the Wallabies from his French club La Rochelle, and ahead of a probable return to the Test team to meet England on Sunday.

The 145kg lock captained the Wallabies to the Rugby World Cup last year but a calf injury after the first game ended his tournament.

An injury-plagued season for La Rochelle followed and after effectively playing for two years without break, Skelton spoke with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt about not returning to Australia for the Test winter, and instead staying in France.

“In the World Cup I got injured and did my calf, and then I came back and two weeks before I was supposed to play Bayonne, I did my hammy [hamstring]. Then I played 10 games and then did my calf and was out for eight weeks,” Skelton said.

Wallabies second-rower Will Skelton is back in Australian colours.Credit: Getty Images

“The body was struggling a bit so I front-footed it and said, ‘Hey Joe, I think I really need a pre-season’. He was already looking at going with guys at home anyway [in July], and I thought that was the best decision either way - look now, you’ve got Jeremy Williams, “Fruit” [Nick Frost] is playing awesome, Lukhan [Salakaia-Loto] as well. Our locking stocks are looking good.

“But I am grateful to be here now, and I’m ready to return with the boys.”

Under the World Rugby release window, Skelton will be available for the Wallabies’ first three Tests of the tour: England, Wales and Scotland.

The 30 -Test lock is working hard to catch up on Schmidt’s structures but he is, now, one of the most match-fit players in the squad. He has played nine games for La Rochelle in the Top 14 since September, and did a 72-minute shift in a win over Stade Francais at the weekend.

Skelton said his fitness for the Lions series was not part of the discussion with Schmidt around missing the Rugby Championship, but he confirmed he is keen to be part of the series next July. A young Skelton played for the Waratahs against the Lions in 2013.

Skelton celebrates after La Rochelle won the Heinekin Cup in 2023.Credit: Getty Images

“Absolutely, [I am] keen. You ask any Australian professional rugby player and they want to be a part of it,” Skelton said.

“The goal is to be in form and play well. I have to show Joe I am ready to perform and that starts against England, and I have a three-Test window, and hopefully I play good enough and play good enough for club and stay injury-free, and then put my hand up. My motivation to play for Australia never changes.”

Watching the Wallabies during the European summer was tough for Skelton.

“When you’re not involved and you’re watching on TV, you always have that itch, and you want to help,” Skelton said.

“We haven’t had the results that we wanted, but I feel the team’s building in the right direction.”

Will Skelton playing for the Waratahs against the Lions in 2013.Credit: James Brickwood.

Skelton said he’d had “constant conversations” with Schmidt during the July series and the Rugby Championships, and “bounced a lot off each other, to see where this group’s going”.

He does not expect to be considered for the captaincy again, however, despite leading the Wallabies to the World Cup last year. Since then, the Wallabies have had five captains: Dave Porecki, Liam Wright, James Slipper, Allan Alalaatoa and Harry Wilson.

“With a new team and a new coach, he’s got his own process with that,” Skelton said.

“We never really spoke about that. But just having experienced guys within the squad helps the group overall. I’m just here to add as much value as I can.”

Skelton said he hoped the pain of the 2023 World Cup burnout would be beneficial for the Wallabies.

“We had a young group and it was a very disappointing result for us. We took a lot of learnings. A lot of those guys in that squad will look back at that experience, and it will be tough,” he said.

“But I hope that they’ve learned, and it will make them better coming into this regime with Joe. I can already see the switch, and how excited they are to be able to perform for Australia.”

In the past Skelton has played off the bench for the Wallabies when only returning for the Spring Tour, but the opportunity to put nearly 300kg of power on the tighthead side of the Wallabies starting scrum – with 145kg Skelton and 145kg prop Taniela Tupou – will not be lost on Schmidt.