Maddocks, Valetini link up with Wallabies ahead of Samoa Test

Mon, Sep 2, 2019, 6:44 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Jack Maddocks is back with the Wallabies ahead of the Samoa Test. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley
Jack Maddocks is back with the Wallabies ahead of the Samoa Test. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

Jack Maddocks and Rob Valetini have linked up with the Wallabies in Noumea ahead of Saturday's Test against Samoa.

The young pair missed out on the Wallabies' World Cup squad last month but could both be in line to feature in Australia's final pre-World Cup Test against the Pacific Islanders.

Selectors are set to take a cautious approach to the lineup with the match coming just two weeks before their World Cup opener against Fiji, not keen to risk injuries to key players.

While there is not believed to be any major injury concerns among the squad, the Wallabies are keen to ensure players balance their load with the sport's showpiece tournament coming up.

Any selection would be a long time coming for Maddocks and Valetini, who have been on the fringes of the Test group this year.

Jack Maddocks. Photo: Getty ImagesMaddocks hasn't featured for the Wallabies this year, last playing against England at Twickenham, while Valetini would be making his debut if he were picked for the Samoa Test.

The duo joined Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Liam Wright, Tom Banks, Luke Jones and Tatafu Polota-Nau as members of the extended squad in the lead-in to the Test.

Flanker David Pocock is expected to return to the side but some players who have had a big load in 2019 could sit out the Parramatta Test.

The Wallabies will take on Samoa for the first time in eight years when they face off on Saturday night, though Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu hopes Tests against Pacific nations only increase.

World Rugby has committed to increasing the opportunities for Tier Two nations to play tests against Tier One nations annually and even though their proposed Nations Championship was shelved, it is expected Pacific Island teams will have more chances to play teams from across the globe.

Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu, who is set to retire from international rugby after the World Cup, said he hoped that trend would continue in the future.

Will Genia was back in action for the Wallabies. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley"If there's one test a year and it's on a rotation kind of thing, this year Samoa, this year Tonga, Fiji one year, that'll only help build the confidence and I know a lot of guys that are playing on the Tongan team and they're thoroughly excited that they're playing against New Zealand, test themselves against some of the best teams in the world," he said.

"If we look at the game as a whole, on a global level, that'll only help.

"You look at Argentina and the way they've been going, them being in the Rugby Championship has really helped them and it just, it gets the engagement of all the Polynesian perspective so it can only be good for the game.

"If we can get more of those games happening, it'll be something that'll just grow the game even more."

The Wallabies take on Samoa at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday September 7, kicking off at 7:30pm AEST, LIVE on Network Ten, Foxtel and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.

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