Behemoth Wallabies second-row Will Skelton has indicated that he is keen to represent his country during the end-of-year Tests and said he has spoken to head coach Joe Schmidt.
The 32-year-old was last in action for Australia when he captained his country during their disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign in France last year.
Skelton‘s absence at Test level is due to his commitments with his Top 14 club, La Rochelle.
Ahead of the Wallabies‘ recent Rugby Championship campaign, Schmidt said Skelton could represent his country later on in the competition but it did not happen and now the player has revealed that it could happen during the upcoming November internationals.
Australia are keen to improve after finishing at the bottom of the Rugby Championship and will face England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland on successive weekends next month.
‘I’m in with a chance’
“Joe hasn’t said for definite if I’m selected,” Skelton told AFP. “He’s just asked if I’m keen and, if I’m in form and playing well, I’m in with a chance.
“I’ve not been coached under Joe so that would be pretty cool if I’m involved to work under a guy like him.”
Schmidt is expected to name his squad within the coming weeks and Skelton will be a welcome addition to Australia’s set-up as they came off second best in most of the forward exchanges in their recent Tests against South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina.
The Wallabies’ Test against in Dublin is on November 30 and is outside World Rugby’s international window which means La Rochelle, who are coached by former Ireland fly-half Ronan O’Gara, will not be obliged to release Skelton.
“I have my form at club level,” said Skelton.
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“Hopefully then I get picked for what will be three games, it’s a four game series but it’s only three Tests in the window.
“I might have to beg ROG if I get picked to play Ireland at the Aviva,” he added jokingly.
Meanwhile, the British and Irish Lions will be touring Australia in 2025 and Skelton could take on the famous touring side again after also facing them while playing for the Waratahs 11 years ago.
“I was lucky enough to play against them in 2013,” he said.
“I was quite fresh, 21 years of age, playing against Paul O’Connell and Alun Wyn Jones as the locks.
‘An awesome spectacle’
“It’s going to be awesome to play in Australia, some awesome Tests, an awesome spectacle.”
Unlike Skelton, British and Irish players like England back-row Jack Willis, who are based in France, are facing a problem about whether they can feature on the 10-game tour.
The Lions’ tour opener against Argentina is in Dublin on June 20, the same weekend as the Top 14’s semi-finals, while the opening Test of the series against the Wallabies takes place a month a later.
“A guy I do feel bad for is Jack Willis,” said Skelton.
“He’s one of the best back-rowers in the competition, playing week in week out and is class.”
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