Update: Marika Koroibete – the two-time John Eales Medallist – could have played his last Test in the Wallabies jersey after being out of Saturday’s return Bledisloe fixture in Wellington.
The Roar can reveal the 32-year-old Japan-based winger picked up a wrist injury during his shocker under the Sydney sun at the Olympic Stadium, with Dylan Pietsch in line to start for the first time. It’s believed Koroibete didn’t report the injury until days after the Test.
The two-time World Cup member cost the Wallabies crucial possession and territory early in both halves after shelling simple passes.
His exclusion is set to be the headline omission from Joe Schmidt’s team announcement on Thursday.
It’s believed Schmidt will also make another tweak to his halves by recalling Jake Gordon in favour of Nic White. Tate McDermott will once again provide an injection of spark off the bench.
The Roar also understands Tom Lynagh, the rising playmaker who didn’t get on the field last Saturday, will be replaced by Ben Donaldson on the bench.
It’s another blow for Lynagh, 21, who has been plagued by mystery hamstring issues since debuting against Wales in July.
Josh Flook will also come onto the bench to provide utility cover.
Another who won’t be in the mix is Max Jorgensen.
The 20-year-old hasn’t recovered from illness and has flown home to Sydney. He has been replaced by Darby Lancaster, who debuted against Georgia in July and helped snap Eastern Suburbs’ 55-year Shute Shield drought recently.
Despite the All Blacks’ poor recent record in Wellington, including their shock 38-30 defeat to Argentina in the city last month, their six-Test winless streak is nothing on the Wallabies’ 23-year baron run across the ditch.
As such, the bookies have listed the Wallabies as $14 outsiders despite their second half surge in Sydney where they fell just short, losing 31-28.
With Koroibete unlikely to go on the Wallabies’ end of year Spring Tour, it’s possible the former NRL star has played his last Test.
Despite being Schmidt’s sole foreign-based player picked in the Rugby Championship, Koroibete’s form hasn’t been anywhere near the heights of the past.
And with Schmidt repeatedly saying his strong preference is to pick from home, as well as the imminent arrival of Joseph Suaalii, it’s possible Koroibete won’t be called on again.
The inability to have players available all the time is partly why Schmidt is keen to pick from within.
Koroibete’s replacement Pietsch gets his chance after a strong cameo off the bench.
The Force-bound winger won a penalty at the breakdown in defence and was physical on both sides of the ball. Pietsch will also give the Wallabies some height in the backfield, with All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke proving a force in the air.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Pietsch said he was hopeful for more opportunities but recognised Koroibete’s strong history in the Wallabies jersey meant nothing was going to come easily.
“I’d always love to start,” Pietsch said, before calling Koroibete “world class”.
“We’ve got to respect what he’s done in the past and what he does every week … I’m more than happy to start but I understand that Marika is there and is one of the best.”
The decision to recall Gordon comes a week after he was surprisingly left out of their squad for the Bledisloe opener.
Schmidt, who spent the previous two years inside the All Blacks camp, believed White had the ability to ruffle the feathers of his opponents.
In the end, it mattered little because the Wallabies were chasing their tails from the outset after letting the All Blacks race out to a 21-0 lead.
Although the feisty No.9 was defensively sound, the experienced halfback’s afternoon finished on a dour note after dropping a ball at the base of the scrum.
Gordon was believed to be filthy about being axed, having quickly emerged as Schmidt’s first-choice halfback over the previous three months.
