Will Skelton eager to power Wallabies after World Cup disappointment

Australian rugby star Will Skelton is ready to channel the lingering disappointment of the Wallabies' recent World Cup campaign into a positive force for his team.

Reflecting on his role as an injured, sidelined captain during the tournament, the towering lock is set to make a powerful return, optimistic about the future of Australian rugby as they prepare to face England at Twickenham.

Having recently rejoined the national squad in Teddington, the 32-year-old French-based lock brings renewed energy and resilience to the Wallabies camp.

His return has been hailed by experts, including former Test halfback Will Genia, who believe that Skelton’s presence, both on and off the field, could be a significant asset for head coach Joe Schmidt.

Skelton, a seasoned European rugby champion with both Saracens and La Rochelle, understands the impact he can have.

Returning to the iconic Twickenham in Wallabies gold "would mean the world" to him, and he remains optimistic about Schmidt’s strategies and the team’s potential.

Despite the Wallabies’ current ninth-place world ranking, Skelton holds a firm belief in the squad's abilities.

"The World Cup hurt everyone involved - former Wallabies, young guys who are trying to aspire to be future Wallabies," he said.

"But I look at it as an awesome opportunity. We can really push up in the rankings and win every game that we can.

"We've got a Lions series next year, which is an exciting prospect for Australian rugby, and the guys that are involved now can fulfil the potential that we have in this team.

"There's some really good stuff there, and when I get into camp you see that day in day out, the standards that we have at training, the expectations from a world-class coaching team.

"And that's really filtering down to every player in the squad, so I have no doubt this team is going to get where we want to get to."