Forgotten Wallabies wing on Rennie's radar after Koroibete withdrawal
A former Wallabies wing could be in line to make his first test appearance in five years following the withdrawal of Marika Koroibete from Australia’s end-of-year tour squad.
Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie announced on Sunday that Koroibete, and prop Pone Fa’amausili, won’t tour with the Australian national side to Japan, Scotland, England and Wales due to family reasons and a calf injury, respectively.
The loss of Koroibete is particularly significant given his status as one of the key Wallabies players, as well as the fact that he has now played his last test as an Australian-based player before joining the Saitama Wild Knights in Japan on a four-year deal.
However, Rugby Australia’s [RA’s] recent relaxation of the Giteau Law – which has enabled the return of Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi, Sean McMahon, Will Skelton, Rory Arnold and Tolu Latu this season – could allow Koroibete, who has 42 test caps to his name, to be part of future Wallabies squads.
For the time being, though, Rennie will be forced to make do with Koroibete’s absence as he looks for replacements from within his current squad, which has now shrunk to 35 players.
“Marika didn’t play the last game [against Argentina],” Rennie said from his side’s training base in Oita on Sunday ahead of this weekend’s clash against Japan.
“Jordy [Jordan Petaia] got a start, it gave Tom Wright a sniff. Off the bench, he played really well, so it is a position we’ve got a bit of depth in.
“Marika’s an unbelievable player, massive work ethic and physicality, so big shoes to fill, but we’ve got good depth there.”
That hasn’t stopped Rennie from searching abroad for potential replacements to fill the void left by the 29-year-old.
RA’s new-look eligibility rules could prove to be helpful in Rennie’s quest to bring in extra players overseas as he pointed to three-test Bristol Bears wing Luke Morahan as a possibility to link up with the Wallabies squad in the United Kingdom.
It has been almost a decade since Morahan, the former Reds and Western Force flyer, made his debut for the Wallabies in Scotland’s famous 9-6 victory over the Australians in Newcastle in 2012.
Morahan went on to make a further two outings for the Wallabies, both of which came in 2016 against England in Melbourne and France in Paris.
The Wallabies will be without one of their most explosive players over November. https://t.co/9tUCrdNpPj
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The following year, the 31-year-old relocated to England and has gone on to establish himself as a regular at Bristol under the tutelage of Pat Lam.
Given his fleeting appearances in the test arena, his age and the conditions of the Giteau Law, a test rugby comeback may have seemed beyond the realm of possibility for Morahan, but that could very well be on the cards under the current circumstances.
Having already revealed in recent weeks that he has kept an eye on Morahan’s progress in English and European club rugby, Rennie again outlined that the veteran speedster remains a chance at being called into the squad.
Working in Morahan’s favour is the fact that Rennie has ruled calling up Australian-based players as he made note of his commitment to providing those he omitted from his touring squad a full Super Rugby pre-season to continue their development.
“Yeah, possibly,” Rennie said when asked if Morahan could join the squad following Saturday’s test against Japan.
“Obviously we were watching him, as we’ve been looking at lots of players around the globe, so we’ll see how we come out of this tour.
“We’ve made a real commitment to the guys who were left behind to go straight on leave and come back in November to have a decent off-season, and we’re very focused on maintaining that, which will mean we won’t look back at home to try and bring someone over.”
It wouldn’t be the first time Rennie has called on an exiled player for international duty this year, as he gave Cooper and McMahon their first tests in four years against the Springboks and Los Pumas, respectively, during the Rugby Championship.
Similarly, McMahon’s Suntory Sungoliath teammate Kerevi made his first test appearance since the 2019 World Cup against the All Blacks in Perth, a feat set to be matched by French-based pair Arnold and Latu on the upcoming tour.
Skelton, meanwhile, will join 38-year-old prop Greg Holmes – who became the oldest Australian international since World War Two against Los Pumas earlier this month – in making his first outing in test rugby since 2016 in the coming weeks.
Regardless of whether or not Morahan is called into the squad, Rennie maintained that a decision on who will replace Koroibete, or Fa’amausili, won’t be made until the Wallabies arrive in the UK.
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
15 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments