Valetini lets his actions speak as he commits to Wallabies until 2027

1 week ago 3

Wallabies back rower Rob Valetini presents a study of contrasts. He is not fond of interviews, yet he is consistently one of the most articulate Wallabies. He is unfailingly polite off the field, yet when the whistle blows, he carries the ball with more menace than almost anyone in world rugby.

In Townsville, ahead of facing Argentina, Valetini understands that he will need every part of his relentless physicality to counteract the likes of Pablo Matera, but just don’t expect him to get into a scuffle doing it.

“I’m not really one to fight, I guess I just try to let my actions do the talking through rugby, I get (that) scuffles happen, but I try not to get involved just because, maybe I’m too tired or something after my carry or tackle,” Valetini said with a smile.

“If I was angry at someone (in the opposition), I would try to get back at them through a carry or a tackle or something, instead of scuffling.

“I think that’s probably the way I look at fights. I try not to get involved and just let my game do the talking.”

Valetini is fully fit after playing 80 minutes in the Wallabies’ loss against South Africa in Cape Town, after a calf issue ruled him out of the third Test victory against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney.

Rob Valetini of Australia carries against South Africa in Cape Town

Valetini understands that while scuffles in rugby are not for him, Will Skelton’s innate ability to ruffle opposition feathers is just part of what he admired about the La Rochelle second-rower during his stint back with the Wallabies.

“On the field, he’s always switched on, but something I’ve learned from Will is that he’s one of the biggest jokers off the field, which is weird when you see him on the field, he’s in people’s faces, in fights and all of that,” Valetini said.

“I think one of the things I take away from that is off the field, you have to switch off and get away from rugby.

“You know when you’re training and in your game, it’s time to switch on, but trying to find that balance, that’s something you can take away from Will because if people saw him off the field, they’d be like, what the hell?”

Will Skelton helped Rob Valetini on and off the field during his stint for the Wallabies

Skelton’s return to La Rochelle has deprived the Wallabies’ other main prankster Taniela Tupou of a comic foil in Townsville.

Tupou will join his new club Racing 92 in Paris after the Rugby Championship, and although Valetini thought hard about an overseas sabbatical in France, he will be playing until the end of 2027 in Australia with the Brumbies.

“I was sort of a bit late to the negotiation stage and I had to tell (Rugby) Australia by a certain point and I decided just to stay anyway until (20)27,” Valetini said.

“I decided just to stay here and see out my contract till (20)27 and then I guess decide from there what I’ll do next...it’s a long time, but I think it’ll go fast”

Valetini knows that he wants to play overseas at some stage in his career, given his learning about new cultures, but is unsure whether it will be in France or Japan. For now, he is grateful to stay at the Brumbies, where he has made his home in Canberra since leaving school in Melbourne.

“I think that’s probably one of the big reasons why I decided to stay (in Australia) and why I enjoy playing rugby at the Brumbies, I feel like we have a close-knit group,” Valetini said.

“When you have that and you’re on the field, you do a lot more for the person beside you, I think the club just feels like a family.”

The closest member of Valetini’s surrogate family in Canberra is fullback Tom Wright, who will miss the rest of the season after suffering from an ACL injury against South Africa in Cape Town. Wright and Valetini are roommates for club and country, with a close friendship initially forged through games of Fortnite on PlayStation.

On the surface, Valetini and Wright present contrasting personalities, but both men have built a strong understanding on and off the field and the back rower has stayed in close contact with the fullback as he recovers from the devastating injury.

“When it initially happened, I didn’t think anything of it when he came off the field, I thought he must have just tripped up or something,” Valetini said.

“So to hear at the end of the game what happened, I felt quite sad for him because I thought he’s had a big year...and he’s another voice in the backs, he’s the one that leads and directs them.

“I’m a bit shattered for him obviously not being here, but I think with his injury, you have to look at the good things that can come out of that.”

“He gets to spend time with his daughter (Indi) now and his partner (Bronte) back in Canberra, he’ll have a lot of downtime and be able to build that connection with his daughter.”

This week, Valetini has had his own exhausting workload to complete in the heat and humidity of Townsville. The back rower understands that his time working with coach Joe Schmidt is limited, and is thriving under the New Zealander’s trust in him to do what he does best, physically dominate the opposition.

“He (Schmidt) talks a lot about fundamentals and just the basics of rugby and how little things go unnoticed in training, and he’ll pull you up on that stuff just to make sure you’re doing it right because it does help out our game planning system,” Valetini said.

“He’s been really good for me...I feel like I’ve got a lot of belief from him for me to sort of build my confidence and just play my own game.”