The return of Rob Valentini to the ACT Brumbies side is a major boost for the team. They’re looking to improve their performance in Super Rugby, and this could be exactly the thing they need to get moving in this direction. He’s a strong player and great at number eight, so he will help to strengthen the back row of the team. The return of Valetini is timed nicely for the team to attempt to keep up a winning streak against the Waratahs.
Unfortunately, while the Brumbies have enjoyed a 13-win winning streak against the Tahs, this was not to be, even with Valetini on board. The Brumbies lost to the Waratahs in their March game, but only just. In the run-up, Valetini had been adamant that he was there to help keep the streak going, but the Waratahs proved too much for the Brumbies this time out. It was an impressive game though, nonetheless. Waratahs took charge early on, and they scored 21 unanswered points in the first half, leading by 15. However, the Brumbies did play with 14 men for a quarter of the game, which definitely put a dampener on what they could accomplish.
That being said, they were resilient, working hard to claw back into the game. By the end of the game, they’d made back the deficit, losing only by three points. But it was enough to lose that winning streak and hand the Waratahs their first win over the Brumbies since 2018.
Of course, there’s more to come with some of the Brumbies’ upcoming matches likely to prove severely testing as well. And, of course, there’s a rematch against the Waratahs to come later on in May, which may see some payback time.
What can Valetini bring to the side?
It may be a bit of a surprise to have not seen him around, but Valetini is back after being out from a hamstring injury. He missed the first five rounds of the Super Rugby Pacific campaign but is now back for the team. He’s a great back rower and is a two-time winner of the John Eales Medal in Australia. As such, he’s a major boost for the side and has many qualities perfect for taking the team on further.
Valetini is specifically known for his powerful ball-carrying skills. This makes him an excellent defensive presence within the team. Not only that, but he’s powerful while remaining agile as well, and he is considered one of the top back-rowers in the world. As a ball carrier, he has significant metres per carry and can break tackles, advancing the ball downfield incredibly well. He’s also got a high work rate, which means that he consistently applies pressure both in defence and attack.
Where can Brumbies go from here?
Despite the unexpected loss to the Waratahs, things have been looking pretty good for the team since then. In the following game, the Brumbies took on the Highlanders, and beat them in style. Impressively, they managed to find extra gears and took on the NZ side very well. They have followed this win with an even better one over the Reds. The side took down the Reds 39-26 which is an impressive victory. But it’s not going to be a walk in the park for the rest of the season. There’s Moana Pasifika to come in the next week, a team that’s been growing in each game. Following that, the team faces the Hurricanes before heading back for an away clash with the Waratahs again. It remains to be seen if they can turn things around.
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