SAINT ETIENNE – Will Skelton has officially been ruled out of the Wallabies’ crunch Pool C World Cup clash against Fiji because of a calf injury.
His absence confirms The Roar’s Friday report that Skelton would miss the Wallabies’ second World Cup fixture.
“It’s always disappointing to lose your captain but the World Cup’s about teams not individuals,” Eddie Jones said before kick off. “As much as we’re disappointed he’s not playing, the team’s prepared really well so we’re ready to go today.”
Team officials were still saying they were optimistic that their captain would feature as late as Saturday’s captain’s run.
“There’s no mind games, we’re just giving him as long as possible to get ready, he’s an important part of our team, and we’re prepared to do it,” Wallabies assistant coach Dan Palmer said.
![Will Skelton of Australia takes part in reciting the Australian national anthem prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Australia and Georgia at Stade de France on September 09, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)](https://cdn4.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Will-Skelton-1.jpg)
Will Skelton has officially been ruled out of the Wallabies’ clash against Fiji. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The Roar understands Skelton however had already been ruled out, with Richie Arnold promoted into the starting side to partner Nick Frost and Matt Philip called onto the bench. Hooker Dave Porecki will, as written on Saturday, become the Wallabies’ 88th Test captain.
Skelton sustained the calf injury in the Wallabies’ last main training session of the week on Thursday.
Sources told The Roar that Skelton pinged his calf at the session and immediately dropped to the ground before calling for the trainer.
The Wallabies still named Skelton to start in the second-row, with coach Eddie Jones saying the giant lock would be given “right until kick-off” to prove his fitness.
Skelton wasn’t present for the Wallabies’ team photo on Saturday, with Arnold wearing his No.5 jersey and Philip in the No.19 shirt.
Palmer said that Skelton was receiving treatment during the Wallabies’ captain’s run.
![](https://cdn4.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Wallabies-8.jpg)
Will Skelton was a notable omission from the Wallabies’ team photograph ahead of their match against Fiji at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on September 16, 2023. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
On Stan Sport former Wallaby James Horwill said Skelton’s loss meant the team would “lose a bit of ballast in the second row. And with Taneila going, that tighthead side of the scrum, where the both of them were packing down, was so dominant against the Georgians so we’ll miss a little bit of that.”
Former skipper Michael Hooper added: “Having Will out is massive. I thought he was out best player last week.”
Morgan Turinui said Skelton was “such an important link as well. It’s not what the Wallabies needed (but)). there’s some leaders there.”
Despite Palmer saying Skelton’s calf injury was “minor”, that same terminology saw Taniela Tupou ruled out of the match too.
Tupou, like Skelton, suffered an injury at training with the tight-head prop going down earlier in the week on Tuesday.
Both injuries occurred when reporters weren’t present at training, with the travelling press limited to watching only 15 minutes of most training sessions.
Jones on Friday confirmed Tupou would likely miss “a week or two”.
Should the Wallabies defeat Fiji, it’s likely most Skelton and Tupou won’t be risked before a quarter-final.
The Wallabies meet Wales next weekend in Lyon, before wrapping up their group stage against Portugal on October 1 in Saint Etienne.
Jones’ men have a bye-week before the quarter-final, meaning the Wallabies have some time up their sleeve for their giants to recover from the respective leg injuries.
Wallabies veteran James Slipper, who started the year as one of Jones’ two co-captains, has been drafted in to start at tight-head prop in the absence of Tupou and Pone Fa’aumausili, who is making steady progress from his own calf injury.
Slipper said Porecki would lead the Wallabies well.
“Dave, if given the opportunity, he’ll be superb,” Slipper told reporters on Saturday as he readied to become just the third Wallaby to play at four World Cups.
“The way he goes his business on the field as a player. He leads by example. He’s one of those players who is really measured, composed and world class at his craft.
“He’s got the respect from the boys. Even today leading the captain’s run, he did a superb job. Good captains find a way under pressure to stay composed and to lead and he does that well.”
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