'We want to end the tour on a high': Wallabies playing for pride against Wales
The Wallabies have their fate in their own hands as they prepare for a final showdown with Wales at Principality Stadium. A victory would see the Wallabies end a long season on a positive note after a disappointing tour so far.
Wallabies backrower Rob Valetini has vowed to bring the fireworks against the Welsh after ill-discipline and wayward attack marred the Wallabies games on their northern hemisphere tour so far.
“We weren’t able to fire a shot, and as a playing group, we thought we let ourselves down with our discipline. It’s hard to win a test match away when we are giving away 18 penalties.
It’s a new week this week. We want to end the tour on a high. [We will] review hard and try to prep well for this week and hopefully go out with a bang this Saturday.”
Staring at their first winless northern hemisphere tour since 1976, the Wales test looms as an important final game for the Wallabies if they are to keep the momentum going into 2022 after building some goodwill with a five-match win streak.
“We want to put everything out there. We’ve had a tough year, a long year. We want to go out and put in a good 80-minute performance away from home. In front of a big crowd; something we can be happy with, and head back home and be happy.”
New recruit Ollie Hoskins joined the squad in the lead-up to the clash with England and has seen firsthand the influence that Dave Rennie has had on the group, instilling in the Wallabies a profound respect for each other built on culture.
“From someone who has come in towards the end of the tour, you can see how close the group is and how much they care for each other, and how much they are proud to represent their country. It’s massive for us as a playing group to make sure these guys hop on their plane back home with a sense of pride and people are happy with the effort they put in.”
“We have spoken about making sure we leave our stamp on the match and we play the brand of rugby that Australia is known for, and that worked so well for them earlier in the year. I haven’t got the long flight back to Australia to think about, I have a little car journey back home, but still, I would love to be part of the group that plays a brand of rugby they are proud of.”
It will be a chance to iron out discipline issues that have plagued the Wallabies in recent games. Valetini concedes they have no one to blame but themselves, and the team will be looking to right some wrongs in their final match up.
“We thought some of the penalties we did were pretty dumb: offsides, high tackles, lifting tackles. The onus is on ourselves. We have a big thing around that, not giving away stupid penalties in critical games like that. That is something we have been working on during the week.”
That job will become much harder with Wallabies talisman and frontrunner for World Rugby player of the year Michael Hooper being ruled out of the game with a foot injury, leaving a pivotal position for Dave Rennie to fill at openside flanker. James Slipper will captain the side against Wales, but the Wallabies will miss the work rate and on-ball expertise that Hooper provides.
Pete Samu and Colby Fainga’a are both in line to take up the mantle, and Valetini has backed them both to make a big impact in one of the Wallabies key positions.
“Both have big confidence and [the playing group] trust that they will come in and do the job.”
Valetini’s own form for the Wallabies at the back of the scrum has been undeniable, following on from a standout season in Super Rugby. After a shaky start to begin the year, he has quickly become the first name on the team sheet thanks to his ability to bend the opponent’s defence and carry his team over the gain line.
“I’m happy I have been able to translate my form from Super Rugby into test rugby. At the start of the year, I wasn’t finding my rhythm getting into it, so I’m happy to be playing Wallabies rugby. With all the competition in the back row, I’m just happy to be getting to play some minutes.”
“I was a bit nervous at the start of the year. This was my first year starting even though I have been in the system for a bit. I was nervous coming off a good Super season and replicating that [at test level]. But then I had a good chat with Hoops. He said to ‘don’t hold back. Just let everything go and just play your game.’ I got that from a few of the boys. It sort of just happened and I started playing rugby.”
Comments on RugbyPass
This looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to comments