Harry Wilson Injured, Rob Valetini Steps in for Wallabies
The Wallabies captain, Harry Wilson, will not participate in the match against the Springboks in Cape Town due to a knee injury sustained during Australia’s incredible 38-22 victory at Ellis Park last weekend. Although Wilson’s injury doesn’t seem serious, he will miss the second match this weekend. His place will be taken by Rob Valetini, who is finally recovered after a calf injury that kept him out of much of the series against the British and Irish Lions. Valetini suffered the calf injury in Newcastle before the match against Fiji, as did Will Skelton. However, while the veteran was able to return in the second match against the Lions and play in Sydney and Johannesburg, the two-time John Eales Medal winner had not been seen in the gold jersey since then. Valetini is an excellent replacement for Wilson, who scored two tries in last weekend’s victory and generally led from the front with a committed performance.Losing Harry is not ideal at all. Rob has played 40 minutes for us, and that’s all so far this season.
Schmidt
It’s good to have Rob back and I’m sure he will do very well.
Schmidt
With Wilson out and pillar Allan Alaalatoa also sidelined, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has been forced to select a new captain, with standout flanker Fraser McReight receiving the appointment ahead of previous captain Will Skelton. Schmidt has also finally granted his debut in an official match to Corey Toole, after Dylan Pietsch fractured his jaw in a tackle on the Springboks captain, Siya Kolisi, who is also injured and will not play this weekend in Cape Town. Toole first joined the Wallabies squad in 2024, but was never called up for an official match, as the coaches wanted him to improve his defensive work and his skills under the high ball. He returned to the Brumbies at the start of the season and did precisely that, demonstrating once again how dangerous he can be in attack thanks to his dazzling speed.I think his selection in the Wallabies team is probably one of the most consistent things in the last four or five seasons, and this season there has been a small parenthesis in which he hasn’t been, and it’s good to have him back.
Schmidt
Corey is a great young guy.
Schmidt
Obviously, it comes from the seven program, something that several of the South African sprinters have also done.
Schmidt
In another forced change, Schmidt has called up Tom Robertson for the first line, as James Slipper will not play due to a concussion. Meanwhile, Angus Bell has retained his position on the bench after his brilliant performance in the second half last week. Otherwise, Schmidt has named a relatively unchanged bench, with Nick Champion de Cespigny back to replace Langi Gleeson. The Wallabies, for their part, haven’t won an official match in Cape Town in 33 years, losing the last seven consecutive matches at the stadium. But Schmidt doesn’t believe his team needs history to motivate themselves.He is adapting well to the game and this will be a big and steep learning curve for him.
Schmidt
Actually, no, because if we take a look, it’s good to know what has happened, but that doesn’t influence what can happen.
Schmidt
We have to make what can happen, happen. We can’t wait.
Schmidt
Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Corey Toole, James O’Connor, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson. Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Andrew Kellaway.We have to start our game much better than we did last week and we have thought more about that and we have tried to do more about it than look so far back.
Schmidt
