The captaincy merry-go-round continues.
Will Skelton has been unveiled because the 87th Wallabies captain, poised to guide Australia at this 12 months’s Rugby World Cup in France.
The 31-year-old, born in New Zealand earlier than transferring to Australia as a toddler, has solely captained a rugby aspect as soon as earlier than, main a Wallabies XV towards the French Barbarians in the course of the 2016 spring tour. Australia suffered an eight-point defeat.
Skelton’s appointment comes seven weeks after Michael Hooper and James Slipper have been named Wallabies co-captains forward of the Rugby Championship. Hooper didn’t function within the 33-player squad unveiled on Thursday afternoon, whereas Slipper has been relinquished of his captaincy duties.
Halfback Tate McDermott, who virtually led Australia to a miraculous victory over the All Blacks final weekend, has been named Skelton’s deputy.
“Very shocked, nervous were a few emotions I had when Eddie (Jones) gave me the call,” Skelton advised Stan Sport when requested concerning the new function.
“I used to be very reluctant at first, however when the large man calls you, you are likely to comply with his lead and I belief his steering.
“He requested me to only be me … I’m fairly good across the group, getting across the younger boys, offering power so I’ll maintain sticking to that.
“The captaincy was by no means in my ideas or in any future ideas. I believe I‘m trying to play a role here where I provide experience and add value where I can.”
Skelton did not represent the Wallabies between November 2016 and November 2021, making just 28 Test appearances since his debut in 2014. The 203cm second-rower has instead been plying his trade in Europe with the Saracens and La Rochelle, winning four European Rugby Champions Cup titles.
“He’s a man that’s used to profitable,” Jones defined to Stan Sport.
“That’s definitely part of the rationale. A lot of this squad aren’t used to winning.”
Skelton, who nonetheless represents French champions La Rochelle, returned to worldwide rugby in 2021 after Dave Rennie picked the 140kg lock as certainly one of his three ‘Giteau’s Law’ picks. Jones adopted go well with this 12 months.
“We want to change the team. My job was to come here and change the team and part of that is changing the leadership and the way the team’s led,” Jones continued.
“Will’s a good man, a good team man, guys, he’s played in a lot of winning teams in Europe and he brings that almost common touch to the team to bring them together.
“We need someone who can bring the squad together, make it a little bit tighter. He‘s got all those attributes.
When asked for his message to Wallabies fans, Skelton responded: “Keep backing us. We’re a young squad, full of energy, we’ve been slowly building the last couple of weeks, we haven’t got the results but as a squad we’ve seen improvements and we’re ready to attack this World Cup.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
