<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>340884</docID> <postdate>2025-03-22 11:08:01</postdate> <headline>All eyes on Wallaby star ahead of grudge match</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-340885" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240223001906792823-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Rob Valetini can't wait to confront his old coach Dan McKellar when the Brumbies clash with NSW. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Sebastian Tan</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Wallabies enforcer Rob Valetini has fired a warning shot to his former coach Dan McKellar ahead of his first Super Rugby Pacific match of the season.</strong></p> <p>Back-to-back Wallaby of the Year Valetini will make his much-anticipated return after sustaining a hamstring injury in the pre season, and says he's feeling his best ahead of the ACT Brumbies' grudge match against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday night.</p> <p>The game will be McKellar's first against his former side after coaching the Brumbies from 2018 to 2022 and winning a Super Rugby AU premiership in Canberra in 2020.</p> <p>Valetini, who debuted in 2018, has worked with the Waratahs coach at domestic and international level.</p> <p>The classy back-rower said there was a different sort of energy in the Canberra camp as the Brumbies look to extend a seven-year winning streak against their arch-rivals.</p> <p>"(The derby) is pretty exciting especially because of the few of the coaching staff I know, such as Dan McKellar," Valetini said.</p> <p>"To get a win against them adds to the motivating factors. They're one of our biggest rivals. Any time you can come back for Tah week is pretty good.</p> <p>"There's been a lot of hype through the week. Those coaches have all helped out the Brumbies to where they are now. They know a lot about us.</p> <p>"It's been two months (recovering from injury). I don't think I've felt as fresh.</p> <p>"You don't want to be part of the team that loses that streak."</p> <p>All eyes are on Valetini in the Waratah camp as well, with his Wallabies teammate Isaac Kailea's smile growing when asked about the threat the back-rower poses.</p> <p>Brimming with confidence after announcing a two-year contract extension on Friday, Kailea spoke of Valetini's power, ball carrying and work rate, of which the Tahs must be wary.</p> <p>"If we can limit him, we can get a result for us," he told AAP.</p> <p>"Robby, he's a good player. Him coming back for the Brumbies is big for them. He'll provide a lot of go-forward.</p> <p>"He's quite similar to Langi (Gleeson). He's a big ball runner. You don't want to give him too much time because he can cause a lot of damage."</p> <p>Defence will be in the front of the Tahs' minds after they lost by 20 points against Queensland last week.</p> <p>The hosts will be boosted by the return of in-form Langi Gleeson but will be without Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii after McKellar opted against rushing the code-switcher back after a toe injury.</p> <p>"We were disappointed at the result, but we haven't made any big changes, only tweaks," Kailea said.</p> <p>"The Aussie derby is always important, and there's more in it this week as it's also Charlie (Gamble's) 50th game.</p> <p>"There's banter between the teams, so there's fuel there."</p> <p>The Brumbies will welcome back lock Caderyn Neville, flanker Luke Reimer and centre Ollie Sapsford to their starting line-up.</p> <p>Their reshuffle comes after the Canberra-based side's emphatic 38-21 win against the Fijian Drua last week.</p> </body>