Rob Valetini says life in a bubble has been a blessing in disguise for the Wallabies, who have learnt to hold each other accountable as they embark on a UK tour desperate to make a statement on the road to the World Cup.
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The Australian squad flew to the UK from Japan on Sunday following a tour-opening win over the Brave Blossoms in Oita a day prior.
The next assignment brings Dave Rennie's squad to Murrayfield Stadium on November 8 [AEDT], where they will face Scotland in search of six consecutive wins, before rounding out the campaign in England and Wales.
Valetini's rise has been emblematic of the Australian side. He has established himself as a devastating loose forward at Test level while the Wallabies have beaten all rivals bar the All Blacks this year.
The 23-year-old has already outlined his desire to help make the Wallabies the best team in the world and he can sense the tide of belief within is turning.
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"It sort of feels different. Everyone just wants to work hard for each other," Valetini said.
"COVID has brought us together a little bit because we've been away for a while, living in each other's pockets. When we are in quarantine, we get together to play card games or table tennis, it's all working to building and bonding our team.
"That helps off the field, and it helps us with training, knowing we're close mates but on the field competition is very high for us and that can only help heading towards game time.
"We're building that brotherhood, and you would do anything for the guy next to you."
The Wallabies are anxiously awaiting scan results on fullback Reece Hodge's pectoral injury which may force a slight reshuffle in the back line, one which will be boosted by the return of Samu Kerevi against Scotland.
The comebacks of Kerevi and Quade Cooper have dominated headlines and there is a sense within Wallabies camp the group is capable of giving the 2023 World Cup a shake.
"Quadey and some of the old heads, and even some of the new boys that have come in, you would only interact with them on a Saturday night for 80 minutes and you would only have that one thing in your head: just beat them," Valetini said.
"In this environment, you need to get to know each other, that's probably the difference. Coming up against someone that's different on the field, say they're angry, and off the field they're such a good guy, you would never think that.
"On the field you could probably say in our first session, people weren't able to tell anyone they did something wrong or anything like that, whereas today people will get you up and they're behind your backside if you make a mistake, being able to have those tough conversations when we weren't able to [before]."
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
