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SAINT ETIENNE – As James Slipper was called up to fill Taniela Tupou’s giant shoes, another disaster was brewing in camp. Will Skelton, the Wallabies captain, is set to miss their crunch World Cup fixture against Fiji on Sunday (Monday, 1:45am AEST).
Skelton pulled up lame at the end of the Wallabies’ afternoon session, with the La Rochelle-based star, who was one of his side’s best during their first-up win over Georgia, undergoing scans to work out the severity of his calf on Friday morning.
Skelton has been named but should he be ruled out, as expected, it will be a colossal blow for the Wallabies ahead of what Eddie Jones described as the “most important match of our Rugby World Cup campaign”.
“He got a bit of a knock at the end of training. He is just getting some extra medical work now,” Jones told reporters on Friday.
Will Skelton is in doubt to take on Fiji after suffering a calf injury during training on Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Will he play?
“At this stage he’s still in the team,” Jones said.
How big a blow would it be?
“We don’t deal in hypotheticals,” Jones said, not wanting to give an inch.
Fortunately, some experience has returned.
Slipper, 34, will become the third Wallaby to play at four World Cups after being named at tight-head prop. It’s just the third time he will start at tight-head prop ahead of his 132nd Test.
His return from a foot injury comes not a second too late, with Tupou’s absence confirmed because of a “hamstring complaint”.
“He’s like having a coach on the field,” Jones said about his veteran prop, who was initially named alongside Michael Hooper as the Wallabies’ co-captains ahead of The Rugby Championship.
James Slipper will become the third Wallaby to play at four World Cups after being named at tight-head prop. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
During an abrupt press conference, where Jones generally defaulted to extremely short sentences, Jones paid tribute to Slipper’s remarkable feat of following in the footsteps of George Gregan and Adam Ashley-Cooper to play at four World Cups.
“It’s a remarkable achievement to play in four World Cups,” Jones said.
“He started off as a tight-head then volunteered to go to loose-head. He’s volunteering to go back to tight-head. It’s a real testament to his courage, resilience, to how much he loves the game and he loves playing for the Wallabies. We think on Sunday he’ll play a pretty big game for us.”
The other changes see Nick Frost return after missing two Tests because of an ear issue, with Richie Arnold returning to the bench to ensure Jones has a strong lineout caller to inject in the second half.
Should Skelton be ruled out, it’s likely Arnold would be promoted and second-rower Matt Philip come onto the bench.
Nic White, as revealed by The Roar on Thursday, will also start at halfback in the absence of Tate McDermott (concussion protocols).
Eddie Jones was stern during his Friday Wallabies team announcement ahead of their second Test. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Elsewhere, Jones has named a settled side with fly-half Carter Gordon and fullback Ben Donaldson respectively keeping their roles after leading the Wallabies to their first win from six attempts against Georgia last weekend in Paris.
Samu Kerevi will form the midfield partnership with Jordan Petaia, with the former likely to play just 60 minutes after playing 40 against Georgia in his return from a broken hand.
Jones has tweaked his bench, with hooker Jordan Uelese returning ahead of Matt Faessler.
While Faessler’s lineout came unstuck after being injected in the final quarter of the match, losing four throws, Uelese’s inclusion is likely to do with his scrummaging ability as much as anything.
Zane Nonggorr and Blake Schoupp once again are the replacement props, while Arnold and Rob Leota will add some starch in the second half.
With McDermott out, Western Force halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa is in line to play his second Test after being included as one of three backs alongside Lalakai Foketi and Suliasi Vunivalu.
“It’s another big opportunity for our young side to keep getting better and we’ll be ready on Sunday,” Jones said.
The Wallabies are unbeaten in their last 18 Tests against Fiji since going down in 1954, with Michael Cheika’s coached side beating the Flying Fijians in the past two World Cup campaigns.
But Sunday’s clash promises to be one of the most competitive, particularly after the unfortunate loss of Tupou.
James Slipper and Taniela Tupou during a Wallabies training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup France 2023, at Stade Roger Baudras on September 13, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
It’s understood the 140kg wrecking ball suffered a hamstring injury during training on Tuesday.
After dominating a Georgian pack known for their set-piece prowess, it was hoped that Tupou would provide the Wallabies a point of difference. That has now been lost.
Slipper has started at tight-head prop just three times, with the front-rower last having to play in the role against England in 2021 after an injury crisis up front led to the veteran switching sides.
Once again the old bull has been given one of rugby’s biggest tasks. Packing down at tight-head against a Fijian side, who are improving by the second at the set-piece.
Jones said he still hoped the Wallabies would have a set-piece advantage over their Pacific neighbours.
“When you play against Fiji you’d always like to have a set-piece advantage and we’ve started the tournament off well in that area, so that’s an area we’d like to keep growing in,” Jones said.
‘And then our ability to win those power contests and as the game goes transitional, to be two steps ahead of Fiji, who are a good side in that area.”
Wallabies team to play Fiji at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
1. Angus Bell (25 Tests)
2. David Porecki (16 Tests)
3. James Slipper (131 Tests)
4. Nick Frost (12 Tests)
5. Will Skelton (c) (30 Tests)
6. Tom Hooper (5 Tests)
7. Fraser McReight (14 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (36 Tests)
9. Nic White (64 Tests)
10. Carter Gordon (6 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (56 Tests)
12. Samu Kerevi (46 Tests)
13. Jordan Petaia (29 Tests)
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (8 Tests)
15. Ben Donaldson (4 Tests)
Finishers
16. Jordan Uelese (18 Tests)
17. Blake Schoupp (2 Tests)
18. Zane Nonggorr (4 Tests)
19. Richie Arnold (6 Tests)
20. Rob Leota (18 Tests)
21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (1 Test)
22. Lalakai Foketi (7 Tests)
23. Suliasi Vunivalu (4 Tests)
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.