Valetini 'good to go' in huge Wallabies boost for second Lions Test / Photo: Martin KEEP - AFP
Valetini 'good to go' in huge Wallabies boost for second Lions Test
Dynamic flanker Rob Valetini declared himself fit and raring to go Monday in a big boost for the Wallabies ahead of the second Test against the British and Irish Lions at the weekend.
Valetini is usually one of the first names on Australia coach Joe Schmidt's team sheet, but a calf niggle forced him to watch their 27-19 first Test defeat from the sidelines.
His immense physicality, strong ball carrying and deft offloading was sorely missed as the Lions back row of Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry and Jack Conan dominated in Brisbane.
"I had a good week last week with training and came through all right so, yeah, I'll be available for selection," Valetini said ahead of Saturday's second Test in Melbourne, his home city.
"I thought I would've been a shoo-in for the first Test, but sort of a smart idea just to have a week off and get through some more training, a bit of more loading through the calf.
"It feels good to go."
Valetini is set to return in front of more than 90,000 fans at the vast Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"I don't really feel pressure or anything," Valetini said of a match that the Wallabies must win to keep hopes of securing the three-Test series alive.
"I feel like it's just another game of rugby and something I've been playing ever since I was young."
Valetini is expected slot back into side at the expense of Nick Champion de Crespigny, while towering lock Will Skelton is also in line for a return after also shaking off a calf issue.
Winner of the John Eales Medal in 2023 and 2024, an accolade bestowed on the best Australian player each season by his peers, Valetini admitted he was gutted when initially struck down by injury.
"I was pretty down when I got injured and knowing I was going to miss the first Test as well," he said.
"I had to put all my focus through my recovery and getting through all my exercise and trying to get the body right for the next two Tests."
The Wallabies were slow off the mark in Brisbane, bossed by a dominant Lions in the first-half.
But they fought back after the break and veteran prop James Slipper said they took a lot of heart from that.
"There was disappointment clearly from the result at the weekend," said the former Australia captain.
"But the feeling is there's a belief in the group that we were able to fight back into that game after being a fair stack down at the start.
"So we've taken a lot of confidence and belief from what we can do.
"Game two, it's another Test match, we know what's coming and it's about our preparation now and taking that belief into the game," he added.
F.Gentile--MJ
