Set to resume his rivalry with Duane Vermeulen on Saturday, No 8 Rob Valetini says the Wallabies are braced for a physical onslaught from the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld.
Valetini is expected to resume his role at No 8 in the 2023 Rugby Championship opener in what will be his 31st Test appearance as the Wallabies strive to clinch their first victory over the Boks in Pretoria.
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With Vermeulen set to lead the Springboks in the injury-enforced absence of Siya Kolisi, it will be the fifth time that Valetini faces the South African veteran. All four of their previous clashes were in Australia, with Valetini coming out on the winning side in three of those.
Having made his Wallabies debut against Samoa in September 2019, Valetini has never played a Test match in South Africa, but is looking forward to facing the formidable Bok pack at the fortress Loftus Versfeld.
“They are big boys, especially Duane there at the back of the scrum,” said Valetini. “We are going to have to be wary of him, and the other two there as well. They are big ball-carriers and when I think of the Springboks, that is what they bring.
“We are going to have to find ways to bring them to the ground and try and slow them up there.
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“With the Springboks, their forwards do a lot of work with their big carries,” Valetini added.
“We think they are going to try and bully us with their forward pack and then unleash their reserves. We are ready for that. It is going to be an 80-minute game of high pace and a lot of impact on the field.”
Photo: EPA/DAVE HUNT