The good news is boom back-rower Rob Valetini has been cleared of a serious knee injury. The really good news is Valetini could even be cleared to play for the Canberra Vikings this weekend.
But the best news at ACT Brumbies headquarters on Tuesday was the sight of Tevita Kuridrani back at training and ready to force his way back into the Wallabies after tearing his pectoral muscle two months ago.
Tevita Kuridrani is back at Brumbies training.
The double injury boost was a welcome relief for the Brumbies, the Vikings and the Wallabies, with both Kuridrani and Valetini on Michael Cheika's Test radar for the end of year spring tour of Europe.
Kuridrani isn't ready to play yet. He tore his pectoral in the last game of the Super Rugby season and was ruled out for three months.
However, he has rejoined the Brumbies training squad for light duties and the Fijian powerhouse is pushing himself to earn a Wallabies recall before the end of the year.
Kuridrani could make his rugby comeback via the Vikings, but the Wallabies could also opt to wrap him in cotton wool before their Test against New Zealand in Japan on October 27.
Valetini let out of a massive sigh of relief when scans showed no major damage to his knee after fearing the worst when he went down awkwardly in the National Rugby Championship last weekend.
The professional rookie was earmarked as a future Wallaby before a game had been played this year, but he twice needed surgery to repair damage to his medial ligament and played just three Super Rugby games.
If he stays on the field long enough for the Vikings in the remaining NRC games, Cheika is looking seriously at Valetini as a bolter for the Tests in Europe.
The 20-year-old will have to get through Vikings training this week before coaches make a call on whether he will play against the Melbourne Rising on Saturday night.
"I was pretty gutted to see Rob go down last week. Initially it was alarm bells after back to back knee surgeries," said Vikings centre Jordan Jackson-Hope.
"But once the smoke cleared, they don't think it's as bad as what they first thought. Hopefully it will be fine.
"I went up and saw him straight away to see how he was going. By then he knew it wasn't as bad as what he thought, so that was reassuring for everyone else and for him as well."
Jackson-Hope scored the after the siren match-winner in the game against NSW Country last weekend, continue his impressive NRC season as he stakes a claim for the Brumbies' No. 12 spot.
The Brumbies have recruited Tom Wright and Irae Simone to give them midfield depth, but Jackson-Hopes performances so far for the Vikings are a reminder the former Australian schoolboy and under-20s player is ready to make the step up.
Jackson-Hope played three Super Rugby games this year and is keen for a chance to make the inside centre spot his own.
"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't mentally tough. But I guess that comes with the career you're in. It won't always go your way, you've got to be resilient with that," Jackson-Hope said.
"I've got one year left [on my Brumbies contract] so all I can do is put my head down and make the most of it.
"It's up for grabs at the moment. Both [Simone and Wright] are great players as well, but it's about who puts their hand up. I'm pretty keen and itching to get the opportunity to show what I can do."
NRC ROUND FIVE
Saturday: Canberra Vikings v Melbourne Rising at Viking Park, 7pm. Entry is free.
Source: Read Full Article