Valetini ready for return
Published on Monday, 21 July 2025 at 4:29 pm
The Wallabies have received a significant boost ahead of Saturday’s pivotal second Test against the touring British & Irish Lions in Melbourne, with powerful loose forward Rob Valetini declaring himself fit and ready for action. Valetini missed the series opener in Brisbane as he continued his recovery from a troublesome calf issue, an absence that coincided with the Australian pack being visibly outmuscled and outworked by the Lions’ forwards in a bruising encounter. His return is not merely a personnel change; it represents a much-needed injection of physicality and a potential shift in the tactical landscape for the embattled Wallabies.
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The first Test highlighted a stark reality for the Wallabies: without key enforcersthey struggled to assert dominance at the breakdown and gain crucial metres in contact. The Lionsrenowned for their forward power and attritional styleexploited this vulnerabilitysetting a relentless tempo and controlling possession through their heavy ball carriers and aggressive rucking. Valetini’s absence was keenly felt in these crucial areas. A player celebrated for his explosive carriesbone-jarring tacklesand tireless work over the ballhis presence would have offered a vital counterpoint to the Lions’ relentless assault. His ability to break the gain line and provide quickclean ball for the halves is precisely what the Wallabies lacked in Brisbaneoften finding themselves on the back foot and struggling to build
Source: yahoo
