{"id":289042,"date":"2023-09-18T00:49:08","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T00:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=289042"},"modified":"2023-09-18T00:49:08","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T00:49:08","slug":"have-you-got-a-problem-with-that-skelton-tupou-to-miss-must-win-clash-as-jones-defends-mind-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/have-you-got-a-problem-with-that-skelton-tupou-to-miss-must-win-clash-as-jones-defends-mind-games\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Have you got a problem with that?\u2019 Skelton, Tupou to miss must-win clash as Jones defends mind games"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Saint-Etienne:<\/strong> Wallabies captain Will Skelton and influential tight-head prop Taniela Tupou will miss the must-win World Cup match against Wales on Sunday (Monday AEST) due to injury but could feature later in the tournament, according to coach Eddie Jones.<\/p>\n

After the opening 35-15 victory against Georgia, Skelton and Tupou were both due to start against Fiji in Saint-Etienne but picked up injuries at training during the week that forced them out of Sunday\u2019s crucial pool match.<\/p>\n

Skelton (calf) and Tupou (hamstring) were in the stands at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as the Wallabies slumped to a disastrous 22-15 defeat against a spirited Fiji outfit.<\/p>\n

The Wallabies will now be without two of their best players for a game against Wales they must win to have a chance of making a quarter-final.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither of those will be available for Wales,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n

Pressed on whether either would be ruled out for the tournament, Jones indicated they could still take part in later games.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Will Skelton walks in a moonboot ahead of Australia\u2019s loss to Fiji in Saint-Eteinne. <\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n

After the Wales fixture in Lyon, the Wallabies face Portugal (October 1) in their final pool game before a potential quarter-final on the weekend of October 14-15.<\/p>\n

Skelton was named in Australia\u2019s starting side against Fiji on Friday, moments before Jones told reporters the second-rower was awaiting scans after going down at training on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Jones and the Wallabies insisted Skelton was still a chance to play and refused to officially rule him out hours before kick-off, with assistant coach Dan Palmer saying there were no \u201cmind games\u201d at play.<\/p>\n

Skelton was officially scratched from the team 70 minutes before kick-off, with Richie Arnold coming into the starting side and Matt Philip earning a spot on the bench.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou. <\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n

Jones defended the call to keep the information about Skelton\u2019s availability inside the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we wanted to try to get him right if we could,\u201d Jones said. \u201cUnder regulations, we only need to name a team an hour before kick-off, so all we\u2019re doing is being good boys and following the regulations of the tournament. Have you got a problem with that \u2026 following the regulations of the tournament?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t blame the loss on Skelton not being there. We\u2019ve got to be good enough to be able to cope with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Jones is confident halfback and vice-captain Tate McDermott will be fit to take the field against Wales after his concussion against Georgia.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Eddie Jones during the game against Fiji.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n

McDermott is likely to captain the side in Skelton\u2019s absence. Hooker Dave Porecki filled the role against Fiji.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, it\u2019s an honour for me to lead [the team] and we would have liked to have a win but back to the drawing board,\u201d Porecki said.<\/p>\n

Australia could also be without reserve hooker Jordan Uelese, who came off in the 65th minute with what appeared to be a head knock after an awkward bump during a tackle.<\/p>\n

Watch all the action from <\/b>Rugby World Cup 2023<\/b> on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Every match streaming ad-free, live and in 4K UHD with replays, mini matches and highlights available on demand.<\/b><\/p>\n

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