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Skelton and Wallabies focused on avoiding a 59-year first
Nicholas Quinlan • August 2nd, 2025 12:19 pm
Lock Will Skelton believes that the Wallabies will be able to take the growth they have made across the last two games to avoid a series whitewash against the British and Irish Lions.
The Wallabies suffered a heartbreaking 29-26 loss against the Lions in front of 90,000 fans at MCG last week.
It was a controversial finish to the game with referee Andre Piardi deeming that Jac Morgan’s clear out was legal despite making contact with Carlo Tizzano’s neck in the process. That decision would allow Hugo Keenan’s last-minute try to seal the game for the Lions to stand.
This would see the Lions claim the series with a game to go in the series and have now won their first tour since 2013.
Speaking about the Tizzano/Morgan incident, Skelton admitted there hadn’t been too much focus on it, but instead looked at how they got themselves in a position that saw them lose the game.
“It hasn’t been spoken about too much to be fair,” Skelton said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“We’re focused on the other moments in the game that led to those decisions. There were moments in that game we could have iced that we didn’t.
“We were up 23-5 after 30 (minutes) and in the last 10 minutes of that first half, they scored two sort of easy tries, and those were championship minutes. Those are the ones that really count and gave them momentum into that second half.”
Despite making his Wallaby debut in 2014, Skelton has only played 33 times for the national side, making his return to the side in 2021.
This has seen the 209cm beast take an approach of only worrying about the game in front of him.
“I’m 33 years old now and I’ve had a 12-year career playing overseas, playing at home,” he noted.
“I don’t really get too caught up in what’s too far ahead of me. I’m really focused on this match. I know how important it is for the country, for our fans and especially for this group.
“We’re really hungry for success, and we are driving as hard as we can in training, and the growth in this group has been immense.
“For me personally, I’m only looking at this game and whatever holds after that, I’ll always put my hand up for Australia.
“I do love playing in this gold jersey and representing my family.”
The third and final Test will take place at a sold-out Accor Stadium on August 2.
The Wallabies will be keen on avoiding being clean swept by the Lions.
If it happens, it would be the first time since 1966 that the Lions have achieved this feat, which would see this Lions squad go down as an all-time great.
Kick-off is set for 8pm AEST.
