McReight to captain Wallabies, Valetini returns for second Boks clash

Inspiration from diminutive Springbok rival Cheslin Kolbe and a year of training inside the Wallabies system has jet-shoed winger Corey Toole confident he can handle the step up to Test rugby in Cape Town on Sunday morning (AEST).

The Wallabies’ debut of the former sevens speedster was confirmed on Thursday night as coach Joe Schmidt made three injury-forced changes to Australia’s side to meet the Springboks, including naming a new Test skipper in Fraser McReight.

The Queensland flanker will become the Wallabies 91st captain after regular leader Harry Wilson was rested due to a knee injury, which also saw the return of Rob Valetini to the No.8 jersey after a frustrating calf injury that has kept him out of almost all the Wallabies’ games this year.

The only other change from the run-on side who beat the Springboks on Sunday for the first time at Ellis Park in 62 years was Tom Robertson coming into the starting team at loosehead prop to replace the concussed James Slipper. The Force prop was preferred to Angus Bell in the No.1 jersey, which highlights the incredible value Schmidt now places in the NSW prop being a one-man “bomb squad” for the Wallabies from the bench.

In one change on the bench, backrower Nick Champion de Crespigny replaces Langi Gleeson.

As forecast, Toole will finally make his long-awaited Wallabies debut after several impressive seasons of try-scoring; first with the Aussie sevens team and then in piling on 29 tries for the Brumbies in the last three seasons.

The Wagga winger is Australian rugby’s fastest man, who can reach elite speeds of 10.2 metres per second and once scored a 130m try at Twickenham in sevens.

He replaces another former sevens player, Dylan Piestch, who suffered a broken jaw at Ellis Park.

“Probably just excitement,” Toole said of his reaction to the news.

“I’ve been around the squad for a little while now. I’ve been quite excited for a little while now. I’ve played a lot of footy with these guys before, like Tom Wright, Lenny (IIkitau) and (Nic) Whitey in the backs. Playing with those boys, I’ve got a lot of confidence and belief that I can go out there this weekend and do my job.”

In what shapes as a mouth-watering duel between wing pairings, Toole and Max Jorgensen will face off against Canan Moodie and Kolbe, who is returning from injury in Cape Town. Kurt-Lee Arendse is injured.

Toole is likely to be targeted by the Boks aerially, but said he took inspiration from Kolbe and Arendse having made switches from sevens, and having the same traits as him: small and fast.

“They started their rugby journey in sevens and I can take a lot of confidence out of that,” he said.

“Also, they’re smaller wingers, a bit like myself. Looking up to those guys who play so well and are some of the best wingers in the world definitely gives me a lot of confidence coming into this weekend.”

Toole has been selected in five separate Wallabies squads since the Rugby Championship last year. He was potentially set to get a Test cap last year but went to the Paris Olympics instead, and almost won a bronze medal. But all the training sessions have him ready.

“Obviously, I wanted to play last year but didn’t get the opportunity. But the longer you be amongst the squad and the more trainings you do, you definitely get a lot more confidence out of that,” Toole said. “Coaches like Joe and ‘Lord’ (Laurie Fisher), when you’re working with them day in and day out, they also bring a lot of confidence with you, definitely.”

Schmidt said he was confident, too, in Toole’s ability to handle the step up.

Valetini said he was pretty pumped to get back onto the field after watching most of the Wallabies’ campaign this year with a calf injury, but particularly the two wins over the Lions and the Springboks.

The Brumbies No.8 and back-to-back Wallabies MVP missed the Test against Fiji, and then the first and third Tests against the Lions. His one half in Melbourne helped the Wallabies rediscover their physicality, however.

“Obviously, seeing the team be so successful over the past two games and me being on the sideline, it really drives you and a bit of motivation as well just to get through rehab,” he said.

“It’s not a fun time in rehab so any motivation you can get to do drills day by day, that helps. Obviously, I’ve been excited with the group and the growth that they’ve shown over the past two games and just really happy to be back.”

Wary of the Springbok backlash in Cape Town, Schmidt said losing Wilson was unwelcome but not many coaches get to turn to their best player as a replacement.

“Losing Harry is not ideal at all, and Rob’s played 40 minutes for us and that’s all so far this season, so it’s good to have Rob back,” Schmidt said. “I’m sure he’ll acquit himself really well. His selection in the Wallaby side is probably one of the most consistent things over the past four or five seasons, and this season there’s been a little bit of a hiatus (so) it’s nice to have him back.”

McReight presented as the logical, and almost only choice, to step up as captain, Schmidt said, with Wilson, Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa all unavailable.

“Part of the decision was (McReight) finished the game last week as captain so it was almost the continuity,” Schmidt said. “I felt he finished the game well, and he was captain of the (Australia) under 20s when he was um in the age group arena.

“He’s a quiet leader, and I don’t think we don’t need someone who’s uh remonstrating or saying a lot. We just need someone who’s going to demonstrate the right performance on field that other people can follow and I think Fraser has demonstrated that.

“And you know, in lieu of of alternative choices ... I wouldn’t say it was a process of elimination, because that’s not fair to Fraser. It was probably not ideal that he’s a first-time captain for us, but he at least got a little bit of experience in the back end of the game when Harry went off last saturday.”

Wilson left the field in Johannesburg with a knee issue and though scans cleared him of major damage, a Wallabies press release said the big No.8 was being “managed”.

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