‘People putting us down’: Valetini’s mission to change the Wallabies story

It is a measure of the significant progress the Wallabies have made in eight months under coach Joe Schmidt that Rob Valetini was still ruing the narrow three-point defeat against the second-best ranked team in the world an hour after the final whistle in Dublin.

Valetini, in tandem with the outstanding Fraser McReight created havoc for Ireland’s world-class back row and laid down a significant marker ahead of next year’s British and Irish Lions series. But none of this mattered to the Brumbies’ breakaway who was still reflecting on the last eighteen minutes of the game, and his side’s inability to defend a four-point lead.

“That’s probably just the mindset shift of the team where if you’re up by four (points), you still got to attack the game,” Valetini said.

“It’s like a fear of losing or something like that, but just being able to go out there and sort of attack the game, and you still got to play rugby, especially in tight games, and against quality sides, like the Irish as well.

“So I felt like when we were able to play our game, we put them on the back heel, and I thought probably towards the end we probably got a bit scared of making mistakes and I think if we just played our game, it could have been a different outcome maybe, but who knows?”

Australia’s Rob Valetini, left, runs with the ball against IrelandCredit: AP

After missing last Sunday’s 14-point defeat against Scotland, McReight’s outstanding performance against Ireland was one of his best in a Wallabies’ jersey.

McReight completed four turnovers and made 21 tackles, missing none and also provided an attacking threat with the ball in hand. Valetini has the perfect view of what the Reds breakaway brings to the Wallabies and wasn’t surprised by his teammate’s performance against Ireland.

“Yeah, that’s classic Fraser, always everywhere and always willing to put his head in dark places, which is probably something that I love the most about him,” Valetini said.

Valetini started all four games on the spring tour and has witnessed the incremental improvements that have come from building trust and solidifying combinations throughout the squad.

Valetini may be bitterly disappointed at not beating Ireland, but he can still reflect on something more important that has been achieved ahead of the visit of the Lions. The Wallabies have collectively restored pride in a team that a year ago looked completely bereft of it.

“The narrative around the Wallabies wasn’t that good, just like people putting us down and I think ever since I’ve put on the jersey, I’ve always wanted to change that narrative and be part of the team that changes it back to good things,” Valetini said.

“Because I think the Wallabies were great, and I think we’re building something nice here and if I could just make the jersey better, because, you know you only borrow the jersey, it’s not something you keep and if I could leave it at a better place … I’d be happy with that.”