Maybe it’s the pre-final build-up affecting my thinking, or maybe it was the lack of key standout moments from the Brumbies’ qualifying final win over the Western Force, but I find myself searching awfully hard for one clear narrative with which to just dive at the keyboard this week.
It happens from time to time. Rugby can’t always be about highlight-reel moments.
And that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the qualifying final. It was exactly the kind of gripping, grinding, hard-fought game a sudden-death match should be. The Force were always going to be up for it, and my pre-game guess of a ten-point margin proved pretty close to the mark.
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But despite contributing to the narrative with a couple of press conference questions on this theme on Saturday night, it took a good 36 hours before it became this week’s obvious topic.
This was a match that coaches would love: a final result achieved not because of a piece of individual brilliance or one key moment, but because of a series of events coming from a collective group of individuals doing their job for the team.
With a number of injuries during the 21-9 win over the Force, Brumbies coach Dan McKellar touched on this team-first mantra that he has worked incredibly hard to build during his time as head coach.
(Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)
“We don’t rely heavily on individuals as a group,” he said post-match, pleased that his side had been able to outwit, outplay, and outlast the Western Australians.
“We’ve got a system in place, and we’ll just ask someone to step up and play their role within the system.”
Rob Valetini is one such individual for the Brumbies. He is a young guy who has already made huge strides this season and will play an even bigger role in Saturday’s final if the Brumbies are to claim a fourth Super Rugby title.
Valetini was enormous on Saturday night, making 68 metres from his 13 carries, and beating seven defenders along the way. He threw the pass for Tom Wright’s try just before halftime, too.
“As an individual, I just feel like he’s matured. He’s grown up a lot, Robbie.
“He’s always had that potential, but… I remember having a conversation with Dave Rennie about him in the past, and he’s a genuine world-class player. That is, he had the potential to be.
“Now we’re starting to see that week in, week out. He’s got a leadership role within our group around defence, which he’s really owned. He’s got more of a voice within the group now, as does Len Ikitau, and he’s thriving off the back of that.
“I’ve said it before, it comes off the back of his consistent training and preparation day in and day out, and yeah, I’m just really happy, and proud of him, to be honest.”
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
I’m sure he’s done it before, but I can’t recall McKellar openly and expansively praising a player like this in some time.
And it’s entirely warranted. In a pack that has endured a shocking run of injury that still shows no sign of easing, Valetini and lock Cadeyrn Neville have been the constants across all nine games in 2021. If they’re not the two best Brumbies this year, they’re absolutely two of the top three. I think they’re it, and by some margin.
With Pete Samu in some serious doubt, along with Folau Fainga’a and James Slipper too, the Brumbies’ back-row impact is going to have to come from Valetini.
But he’s shown himself to be up for that challenge. In fact, he’d only just moved back to the side of the scrum for the qualifying final, having played number eight in Samu’s injury-enforced absence against the Rebels down in Melbourne in Round 9.
And while James Tucker and Tom Cusack are both long odds of being fit for the final, there is some confidence within the Brumbies that Will Miller might be right to take on Queensland in Brisbane. That could open up a move for young David Pocock clone Rory Scott to switch to the blindside in yet another back-row shuffle.
McKellar agreed with my leading suggestion that shuffling Valetini back to number eight was the obvious solution on Saturday night, if Samu’s prognosis came back as bad as it appeared at the time.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“Yeah, and I think if you ask Rob, he’d say his preferred position probably was eight,” the coach offered.
“It gives him opportunity off the back of a good scrum as well, so yeah, he’ll cover that role without any issue if he’s selected there, and if (Samu) is not right. But we’ll hope for some good news around a couple of sore bodies there.”
The Brumbies’ system has been tested considerably more in 2021 than in recent seasons, but the emergence of Scott and a promising debut from Luke Reimer on the weekend shows the system is working very well.
Having used 34 players already this season, it’s no wonder McKellar was quite deliberate in where a win this weekend would rank in terms of the Brumbies’ previous Super Rugby titles.
“Oh, it’d be enormous, yeah,” he said.
“We’d enjoy this more than last year, without a doubt. Just because we’ve got a lot of respect for the opposition, and we understand the challenge that is ahead of us.
“Yeah, it’d be incredibly rewarding to the group and the players and staff. We’ll focus on that now. We’ll recover and review, and prepare well, and put in place some tactics to go up there and get the job done.”
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
I love Harry Wilson and hope he plays 100 tests. But he’s not a once in a generation player - I think Valetini is better. Fortunately we can fit them into the same test side for a decade if we can hold off the NH cash.
MO
Guest
You don't think Sam Cane looked rattled either do you Reedy? Must have been me seeing what I wanted to see.
Reedy
Guest
Oh i watched. It`s laughable what you said. The All Blacks are not scared of a guy who has a short fuse. In fact they niggled him and he got red carded because of it.He will be carded again if selected. Guaranteed.
Kevin Kranston
Guest
Swinton is a proven dud.He is about 6th in the pecking order for a wallaby jersey as you say.Be careful as there are some Swintion fans out there who may have cry if you say that about Lachie.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I did forget Bell. And I do apologise. Swinton can redeem himself with a good showing against the Kiwi teams, but right now I'd take Anstee, Valentini, Fergus Lee Warner, and Samu to cover the 6 over Swinton. Even Angus Scott Young from the Reds has had a far better season. Also that beefcake from the Brumbies who looks hard as nails. I'd have him over Swinton. Swinton was awful. He's played 39mins in a Wallabies shirt worth of note. I'm sorry, he's not as good as people think.
MO
Guest
You weren't watching
Reedy
Guest
No one scares the All Blacks.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
It's a good question. My impression of his big improvement isn't just in the energy and work rate. It's his timing and positioning. He is noticeably sharper and closer to the action - but above all seems to have found running space in places there is usually not much. I think that comes more from being at 6, where you really must be in the action of the game, rather than 8 where you have to be thinking about phases and cover.
Antony Henrie
Guest
That`s unfortunate if Hooper is in the 2023 RWC.They wont win anything with him at 7.
Obes
Guest
the JE medal is a Wallaby participation award these days. Hooper was soundly beaten by Matera and Cane in every test last year. The medal is just a domestic participation medal.Nothing special on the world stage.
Grev
Roar Rookie
After watching Valetini in the NRC I was excited to see him debut fir the Brumbies. In his first season he had a terrible injury run and didn’t look quite there. That changed last year and went on to make his Wallabies debut. In his debut he got limited minutes, turned over a crucial knock on and suffered obvious nerves. This season he has been immense, and I am sure you will see that at WB level. His pass for the try Saturday was icing. He is a player that will take his time to get comfortable, but when he does you see the results. He can be the more consistent bruiser who doesn’t need to be the Swinton style “abrasive” player. He lacks the speed of Wilson but attracts defenders and terrifies backs. Valentini, McReight, Wilson. Size, impact, speed, handling.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Wright needs to make the Reds first - if it was picked on form he’d miss the bench at the moment.
Ace
Guest
The Wallabies do not need Hanigan moving forward.There are 4 perfectly capable locks who can call for the Wallabies in 2021.They also offer more around the park and at ruck time than Hanigan ever could.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
While Rennie's comments focus on the Wallabies moving forward, defence is also a vital part of the game including getting back and providing cover.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
So when Swinton got his run for the dead rubber in Brisbane, guess who started in the second row with Matt Philip? That's right - Rob Simmons. Salakaia-Loto was out injured. It's arguable that without LSL being out, Simmons would have stayed on the bench and Hanigan would have started and Swinton would not have got his go at test footy. BTW, when Simmons started at lock, guess who was on the bench to cover lineout calling when Simmons went off? Hanigan, as reserve lock, because we didn't have any other test standard lineout callers last year (in the absence of Rodda).
Mo
Guest
So doesn’t Rennie and rob ask if they can use him more? Doesnt cost the brumbies anything. If he could take one at the front and drive or at the back his power could set something up. I like the idea of playing the Arnold’s too. Who takes the tall one? Tahs need locks could get them as a package.
Mo
Guest
Swinton scared the all blacks. He’ll always have that. You could have him play first half and set the tone then sub on a fast guy for him like Uru anstee or Wright If he was smart enough to keep all his hits low he would not have been carded. I used to like Hugh mcmenimen. Broke himself into bits but he made people think. Harry got away with a few hits which could have been carded. And pulu and daugunu are hardly evil psychos but are card risks
Mo
Guest
I like the way he grabs a biggish guy like Lee Warner and treats him like a small guy. Valetini has the power to take on saffer packs. I like the idea of converting him to 8 full time coz I think he has more sheer power than Harry. Good for the scrum and good for no 8 moves. Harry can go back to 6. And wow we have mcreight Carlo and little poey from the brumbies racked up for 7 behind the indisputably useless Hooper with Hardwick koteka and Wilkin doing well.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Thanks for the interview and article Brett :thumbup:
Quarry
Guest
Simmons start?! That's never an alternative. Rennie messed up with Hanigan and Simmons. Period. It's nigh impossible that those two are THE ONLY locks/flanks who know how to call a lineout. In fact, if that's the case I'd rather lose all the lineouts then.