Wallabies No.8 Rob Valetini signs new four-year deal

Wallabies backrow star Rob Valetini has signed a long-term extension to stay with the Brumbies.

The 24-year-old has agreed a four-year extension that means he will continue to play in Australia through to the 2027 World Cup.

The announcement came in tandem with news that he has been named the Australian Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year after the Brumbies fell just short of reaching the SRP final.

The award is the first of several to be handed out over the next month – including the John Eales Medal. Valetini would be considered one of the contenders for that after playing a leading role across the international season.

His re-signing continues the good news this week for RA with pops Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou signing new deals to stay in the country.

Valetini became the Brumbies’ youngest player to earn 50 Super Rugby Caps in 2022.

He made his Wallabies debut in 2019 against Samoa and has made 30 appearances in the gold jersey, including a role in 29 of Australia’s past 34 Test matches.

“I’m thankful for this opportunity and grateful for the support from my family and friends in my rugby journey so far,” Valetini said in a statement.

“The boys at the Brumbies are like family now and coming into work every day with them, playing alongside my mates, is really special.

“I’ve got a lot of goals to achieve for both the Brumbies and the Wallabies and that’s what drives me every day to work hard.”

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones said: “Rob’s has the potential to be an influential player in Australian rugby and his commitment to Rugby Australia is outstanding.”

“We’re looking forward to seeing his progression at Super Rugby level this season.”

His ACT Brumbies head coach, Stephen Larkham said: “It’s difficult to overstate how important it is for the club to have Rob sticking around.”

“I remember seeing Bobby as a kid before he came down and you knew then he had all the tools to be a special player, and that’s what he’s become. He’s world class.

“The amazing thing is he’s still got room to grow and mature, and I’m just so excited to see how he progresses from here.”

Moment that sealed Jorgensen debut

Max Jorgensen’s brilliant try in the Tahs trial win over the Reds, where he left Wallaby Filipo Daugunu grasping at thin air was the moment that sealed his debut against the Brumbies this weekend.

Tahs assistant coach Chris Whitaker admitted he thought it would be a big ask for Jorgensen to step up from schools rugby to SRP but he’s proven himself worthy of the starting spot on the wing.

 “I remember watching him at school and when he first came in, I was thinking it is going to be a big step for him, for a school kid to be able to play Super Rugby but from week one you could see he is a different kettle of fish. He is a quality player,” Whitaker said.

“He has got speed.. and just his ability to find space and put other people into space. 

“Generally, you find a kid in school, who is fast, they usually just run around people and so don’t have an awareness of where space is, and how to put people into space.”

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham was asked if he would target the youngster.

“You have got to be careful you don’t target any one particular player in any opposition,” he replied.

“If you get too fixated on that you probably miss the bigger picture and other guys are running through and around you.

“We work on our systems and make sure that we’re confident working with one another. The idea is our connection and system is good enough to work on the night.”

The Brumbies will have a rookie of their own on the wing in Sevens star Corey Toole.

“I’ve got a few of those guys across the backline and through the forward pack as well, guys with x-factor and quite dangerous with ball in hand,” he said.

“We don’t have anything special for Corey, he’s a flyer, he’s going to be out wide, he’s going to be waiting for his opportunities and ideally he’s going to take them.”

Kolbe wants 6N place

Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe says it would be “amazing” if South Africa were to quit the Rugby Championship and join an expanded Six Nations.

He told the Telegraph Rugby Podcast: “I think if it does happen, it would be massive and change the whole scenario regarding the Six Nations.

“For the Springboks, it would be amazing to be part of the Six Nations. You get to play against top countries each and week when you’re part of that competition. It would be amazing if it comes off one day but who knows.”

Meanwhile, South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber says the Springboks will continue to evolve their game-plan and add more attacking strings to their bow ahead of the defence of their Rugby World Cup title in France later this year.

The champions were noticeably more attacking with ball in hand in the autumn internationals at the end of 2022, which included narrow defeats by Ireland and France, and wins over Italy and England.

The side were roundly criticised for being one-dimensional and too reliant on a territorial kicking game in the wake of their 2019 World Cup win in Japan, but Nienaber says they are learning new ways to pick opponents apart.

“We must not be arrogant and say because we won a World Cup in 2019, if we do the same things we will win it again. You have to change, adapt and evolve. Last season was big for us in terms of that,” Nienaber told reporters.

“The team has embraced the changes we have made. You have to make sure you stay creative otherwise other teams will catch up to you.”

The Boks lost five of their 13 Tests in 2022, considered a below-par year, but with Nienaber having widened the player pool extensively, he says it was necessary ahead of the World Cup after the side remained idle for 20 months following their World Cup win due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those defeats included a first-ever home loss to Wales after Nienaber made 18 changes to the match-day squad from the team that won the first Test of the series.

“It was 100 per cent the right decision. It sounds funny, but failure is a way of evolving and developing. When you start learning to ride a bike, no-one just gets on and goes. You have to fall a few times to learn,” he said.

“If you just bat for your own win percentages, you don’t make those changes. Then guys like (wings) Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie would not have had an opportunity.

“While winning will always be our main goal, squad development and getting experience into players was a big drive last year.”

The Boks play a truncated three-game Rugby Championship and take on Wales and New Zealand in warm-up games ahead of the World Cup.

They have been pooled with Ireland, Scotland, Tonga and Romania in France.