I've got a lot of hunger to get out there
Experienced Australia back-row forward Rob Valetini has declared himself fit and ready for selection as the Wallabies look to power up their pack for Saturday's do-or-die second Test against the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne.Valetini missed out on the series opener as he recovered from a calf problem, with the Australia forwards outgunned in the loose as the Lions won 27-19 in Brisbane."I would have been a shoo-in for the first Test but it was a smart idea to have a week off and get through some more training," he said."It feels good to go. I've got a lot of hunger to get out there."
In Valetini's absence, the Lions back row Tom Curry, Tadgh Beirne and Jack Conan ran amok at the Suncorp Stadium, but the Brumbies loose forward says he doesn't feel any extra pressure on his shoulders to lead the Wallabies' backlash this weekend."I don't really feel pressure or anything. I feel like it is another game of rugby and something I have been playing since I was young," Valetini, 26, said."I just try and go out there and do my job – carrying, tackling – and doing my bit for the team."It was hard to miss the last two games but the hunger for the jersey is right up there."However, experienced prop James Slipper says the Wallabies aren't shying away from the magnitude of Saturday's game, which will be played at the iconic 100,000-seater Melbourne Cricket Ground.
While Australia head coach Joe Schmidt spoke after the loss in Queensland about his side's "growth" and "development", Slipper insists the focus is on the here and now and says it doesn't get bigger than a must-win Lions Test match."There is not much more pressure than with a Lions series," he said. "It is a game we are going to have to win."Realistically, everyone knows it is do or die. We know what it is. This is up there with a World Cup final for us as players."We are up against the mighty Lions team. We haven't won that many series in the long history, so for us it is definitely at the foremost of our careers."
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