Wallabies star Rob Valetini is using his frustrating year with injuries as fuel in the quest to take down England.
Valetini and the Wallabies will continue their end-of-year tour against the English on Sunday (AEDT) in Twickenham after a tough win over Japan.
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The match was the two-time John Eales Medalist’s fifth start of the year amid a tough injury period that saw him hurt both calves at different points.
This limited him to just 40 minutes during the British & Irish Lions tour, having aggravated the knock early in the second Test before playing on to half-time.
“It was a bit frustrating, but it is what it is,” Valetini said.
“I was pretty happy just to play the Lions, especially in Melbourne where I was born, at the MCG in front of 90,000. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life, even though it was only 40 minutes.
“I thought we grew as a team there, our depth as a team grew and helped us to where we are now, it helped us to where we are now.”
Valetini is actively working to reduce the risk of re-injury, especially after a similarly disrupted Super Rugby Pacific season.
The back-rower looms as one of the Wallabies’ key weapons if they are to upset the English once again on home soil.
Valetini started at blindside flanker in the famous win, with Max Jorgensen’s after-the-siren winner kick-starting a special 12 months for the team.
“It meant a lot to us because of the season we were having last year, we weren't able to string together any back-to-back games. I thought that Twickenham game was the first one of the tour [we did],” Valetini said.
“It built a lot of confidence within Australian Rugby. It was just awesome to be a part of that game in front of a packed-out stadium.
“I think the vibe within the team was probably the best thing. Everyone was working hard and preparing well, and just seeing the game come together and for us to get a win over England at Twickenham was unbelievable.
“...I feel like the victories are there, but also I feel like the connection within the group. We have somewhat the same group as last year and I feel like the boys are getting a lot closer and we're building cohesion. I feel like we can see that through our trainings and in the games as well and I think the victories are a major plus as well.”
