Wallaby boss provides big update on stars ahead of Bok clash
SPOTLIGHT: Wallaby head coach Joe Schmidt provided a positive update on some key players ahead of their two-match series against the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.
There has been a bit of an injury cloud hanging over powerhouse forwards Rob Valetini, Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou as the Wallabies boarded a plane for Johannesburg on Saturday.
Tupou is nursing a toe injury after he delivered an eye-catching performance in the Wallabies’ third-Test win against the British and Irish Lions.
Valetini was ruled out of the first and third Tests against the Lions due to a calf injury.
Skelton also missed the first Test due to a calf issue, before making a huge impact in the second and third Tests.
However, Schmidt is confident that all three players will be available for selection for next weekend’s Test.
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“They’re definitely all in contention for Ellis Park,” Schmidt told the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday ahead of the team’s departure.
“Obviously, Will played 60 minutes [in the third Test against the Lions], Nela [Tupou] played 60-odd [minutes] in Sydney. It feels like a long time ago; it wasn’t even a week ago.
“So, they’re fine and Bobby [Valetini] did a really good run yesterday [Friday], so our ambition is that he’ll train fully with us this week.”
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Meanwhile, the Wallabies will be hoping that flyhalf Tom Lynagh (concussion) and prop Allan Alaalatoa (shoulder) will play a role in the latter stages of the Rugby Championship.
“We’re going to have to see how the next two weeks go for both of them, “Schmidt added.
“Allan is recovering pretty well so far, and we’re hoping that a conservative approach allows him to come back and play.
“We’ll also be really conservative with Tom [Lynagh]. He’s a young player – you’ve seen the size of him versus the size of some of the guys firing into him – and we’ve just got to make sure that we look after them as best we can.”
