The ACT Brumbies are pleased to have influential back-rower Rob Valetini fit and firing after his big-time performance in their win over the Queensland Reds.
Valetini scored in the first half to spark the comeback from 12-0 as the Brumbies secured the 39-26 victory in Brisbane.
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The back-rower missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury picked up during pre-season trying to run down Corey Toole but made it through 80 minutes for the first time in 2025 in style.
"We've seen every game that he plays for the Brumbies he plays exceptionally well," coach Stephen Larkham said.
"He was struggling against the Highlanders in terms of his fitness a little bit and that was a pretty physical and fast-paced game.
"At half-time he was really struggling there but comfortably got through the 80 and then back to dominant with his ball carries against big defenders, not just the little defenders, but he's matching up against some of those bigger boys out on the field and carrying exceptionally well tonight."
"I think it's taken him a couple of games now and now he's starting to find his feet. I thought tonight he was really dominant, which was awesome for us," captain Allan Alaalatoa added.
"Exactly what we needed, so it's good to see him starting to get his confidence back, and I think the more he plays well here for the Brumbies, it's good for Australian rugby as well."
However, the win came at a cost, with a suspected Achilles injury to Blake Schoupp.
Schoupp crumbled on the ground after a scrum gone wrong, with Larkham fearing the worst.
"My understanding at this stage is that he's snapped his Achilles," Larkham said
"He'll need an operation and then the rehab from there will be up around nine months.
"We'll get on top of that straight away. There's a really good surgeon in Brisbane so hopefully that's the process going forward now, he gets an operation in the next couple of days and then gets into rehab."
Len Ikitau will also face a week on the sidelines after an ugly collision with Lachlan Anderson's hip/knee left him out cold in the opening minutes.
