World Cup LIVE: Wallabies deny ‘mind games’ amid injury mystery over skipper
Australia’s lineout coach Dan Palmer on Saturday denied the Wallabies are playing mind games over the possible inclusion of captain Will Skelton against Fiji at the World Cup.
Skelton was also missing from the official team photograph on Saturday, with Richie Arnold, who was originally named on the bench, wearing his number five jersey, and Matt Philip included even though he was not part of the original 23-man matchday squad.“There’s no mind games, we’re just giving him as long as possible to get ready,” said Palmer at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, where Australia and Fiji both took part in eve-of-match training sessions.
Skelton skipped the official photograph because he was undergoing treatment on his calf with the Wallaby physiotherapists, said Palmer.“He might play and he might not, so if he doesn’t we’re confident MP can step up and do a job for us,” said Palmer, a former international prop.Will Skelton during a Wallabies training session. Skelton, 31, was a surprise choice as captain for the World Cup, after Jones left veteran flanker Michael Hooper out of his 33-man tournament squad.
Jones recalled 34-year-old prop James Slipper to his starting line-up to replace the injured Taniela Tupou at tighthead.
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