Wallabies powerhouse Will Skelton anticipates a fierce comeback from the Springboks following their upset defeat in the Rugby Championship's opener. Despite taking a commanding early lead at Ellis Park, South Africa's game slipped, allowing Australia to clinch a historic 38-22 win, marking their first victory at the venue in six decades. Skelton, alongside a buoyant Australian squad, is bracing for a robust response from the wounded Springboks in the upcoming clash in Cape Town.
Following a remarkable turnaround in Johannesburg, Skelton shared his insights, "It's been building throughout the Lions Series, where we didn't have the best start as well, so we had that coming into this game." The initial deficit did not deter the Wallabies, as Skelton revealed, "22-0 under the post, but we stuck to the game plan and the processes. We stuck in there and we fought to come back to where we won the game. I'm extremely proud of the group and how we fought; we had a really good week of preparation, and to put a performance out like that, it was a really, really great feeling."
"They are going to try to punch us in the face this week, so we are going to have to be ready and have another good week of preparation and really fly into them."
The Wallabies quickly shifted focus to their upcoming game, with Skelton emphasizing the need for readiness against a likely aggressive Springbok strategy. "The boys have already turned to next week, reviewing the match, clipping stuff up. We know what’s coming; they are going to go back to their strengths," he explained.
As for the squad's condition and mindset moving forward, Skelton commented, “There are some bruised bodies and new guys coming into the camp, so the focus is going to be on flying into our preparation to get another good performance.” Despite the uncertainties surrounding his availability due to commitments with French club La Rochelle, Skelton remains optimistic about his participation in the forthcoming matches, especially with back-to-back tests against Argentina on the horizon.
Reflecting on the coaching style of Joe Schmidt, Skelton finds it aligns well with the team's ethos, noting, "For me, it’s been pretty similar (with Schmidt) to every other coach; we speak about buy-in, and everyone buys in to whatever coach you have, but maybe we have found something now that works for us." He added, "In terms of nailing the basics, Joe is really massive on the fundamentals. He is really hard on us, and you can tell by the time the game comes, we are playing freely because we have done the work in the week."
This blend of rigorous preparation and resilient mindset underscores the Wallabies' robust response to challenges, setting the stage for another intense encounter in the heart of rugby rivalry.
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Wallabies powerhouse Will Skelton anticipates a fierce comeback from the Springboks following their upset defeat in the Rugby Championship's opener. Despite taking a commanding early lead at Ellis Park, South Africa's game slipped, allowing Australia to clinch a historic 38-22 win, marking their first victory at the venue in six decades. Skelton, alongside a buoyant Australian squad, is bracing for a robust response from the wounded Springboks in the upcoming clash in Cape Town.
Following a remarkable turnaround in Johannesburg, Skelton shared his insights, "It's been building throughout the Lions Series, where we didn't have the best start as well, so we had that coming into this game." The initial deficit did not deter the Wallabies, as Skelton revealed, "22-0 under the post, but we stuck to the game plan and the processes. We stuck in there and we fought to come back to where we won the game. I'm extremely proud of the group and how we fought; we had a really good week of preparation, and to put a performance out like that, it was a really, really great feeling."
"They are going to try to punch us in the face this week, so we are going to have to be ready and have another good week of preparation and really fly into them."
The Wallabies quickly shifted focus to their upcoming game, with Skelton emphasizing the need for readiness against a likely aggressive Springbok strategy. "The boys have already turned to next week, reviewing the match, clipping stuff up. We know what’s coming; they are going to go back to their strengths," he explained.
As for the squad's condition and mindset moving forward, Skelton commented, “There are some bruised bodies and new guys coming into the camp, so the focus is going to be on flying into our preparation to get another good performance.” Despite the uncertainties surrounding his availability due to commitments with French club La Rochelle, Skelton remains optimistic about his participation in the forthcoming matches, especially with back-to-back tests against Argentina on the horizon.
Reflecting on the coaching style of Joe Schmidt, Skelton finds it aligns well with the team's ethos, noting, "For me, it’s been pretty similar (with Schmidt) to every other coach; we speak about buy-in, and everyone buys in to whatever coach you have, but maybe we have found something now that works for us." He added, "In terms of nailing the basics, Joe is really massive on the fundamentals. He is really hard on us, and you can tell by the time the game comes, we are playing freely because we have done the work in the week."
This blend of rigorous preparation and resilient mindset underscores the Wallabies' robust response to challenges, setting the stage for another intense encounter in the heart of rugby rivalry.