Joe Schmidt reveals ‘doubt’ over Wallabies star ahead of second Lions Test

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt doubts Rob Valetini will play the full 80 against the British & Irish Lions on Saturday, with the two-time John Eales Medallist named to return in the starting side ahead of the must-win Lions Series Test.

Valetini has been a matchday regular for the Wallabies since debuting against Samoa in 2019, surpassing the 50-Test mark last year. Under Schmidt, Valetini was once again a mainstay at either blindside flanker or No. 8 in 2024 – featuring in all 13 Wallabies Tests that year.

That’s what made the absence of ‘Bobby V’ from the Wallabies’ lineup to take on Fiji earlier this month so significant, and it was the same story ahead of last weekend’s series opener against the Lions at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Carlos Spencer on touring South Africa with Black Ferns XV

Carlos Spencer on touring South Africa with Black Ferns XV

Schmidt insisted after the 19-27 defeat that Valetini would be available for the second Test at the world-famous MCG. Valetini’s inclusion was the headline-grabbing talk of the town for the Wallabies on Thursday, but the 26-year-old won’t necessarily play the entire match.

“He tends to play full games for us but I doubt whether that’s going to be the case,” Schmidt told reporters on Thursday.

“If you have a look at his history last year, and he’s been incredibly resilient, I think he’s missed very few Test matches since he made his debut. He’s one of those players who finds a bit in reserve.

“We’ll get to half time, we’ll have a look at how he’s travelling and then during that second half, just again see how he’s travelling.

“We feel with two loose forwards on the bench that we’ve got some cover there for him. We’ll be keen not to run the tank empty completely because we feel we’ve got some good support to come off the bench.”

Schmidt has made three changes to the starting forward pack that lost the physical battle last weekend, with David Porecki named at hooker and Will Skelton starting at lock. Much like Valetini, Skelton also missed both the Fiji Test and the Lions Series opener.

Skelton will partner Nick Frost in the second row, while Western Force captain Jeremy Williams will look to provide impact off the bench. As for Porecki, the former Wallabies skipper replaces Matt Faessler in the run-on side, while Billy Pollard has been retained on the bench.

Powerful loose forward Langi Gleeson is also back in the mix, named on the bench. Gleeson started against the Flying Fijians in the absence of Valetini, but with both men out of the first Lions Test, Nick Champion de Crespigny debuted at No. 6.

“Some of those decisions were made harder by what the bench did last week. I think Tom Hooper is very unlucky to miss out but Will [Skelton] and his experience just allows us to have a look at something slightly different this week,” Schmidt said.

“Will has accumulated that experience, he knows what it’s like to play these players – he’s played them regularly and he’s won against them regularly, certainly in Europe, in the big European games that they’ve played.”