Marika Koroibete is the big inclusion in Michael Cheika’s 32-man Wallabies squad for the upcoming Spring Tour.
Koroibete, who has signed with the Melbourne Rebels after a stint in the NRL with the Melbourne Storm, is one of three uncapped players in the touring party, alongside Kyle Godwin and Tolu Latu.
Will Genia, who was forced to miss the Wallabies third and final Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand after being recalled to Europe by his French Club Stade Francais, has also been included in the squad. He is available for the Spring Tour, as it falls inside World Rugby’s international window.
Koroibete indicated last month that he was in line for a spot in the Spring Tour squad, revealing that Cheika had used the offer of a place in the touring party as something of a carrot to help lure the Fijian-born back from league to union.
The hard-running winger originally played union in his native Fiji – where he went to school alongside fellow Spring Tour teammate Sefanaia Naivalu – but has only played the 13-man code since coming to Australia in 2011 to join the NRL’s Wests Tigers.
Koroibete could become the first Wallaby to make his international debut before stepping onto the field in a Super Rugby game since Tatafu Polota-Nau earned his first Australian cap in 2005.
Koroibete’s inclusion in the touring party was helped by the absence of Samu Kerevi, who suffered an injured ankle in Australia’s 37-10 loss against New Zealand on Saturday and has been omitted from the Spring Tour squad as a result. The Queensland Reds back underwent surgery on Tuesday morning to repair the injury.
Kerevi has been a consistent performer at outside centre for the Wallabies since making his debut against England in June, but his absence will now force Michael Cheika to find a different option for the number 13 jersey.
One option is a shift to the centres for fullback Israel Folau, while Reece Hodge and Tevita Kuridrani are other possible starters in the now-vacant position.
Five-eighth Godwin and hooker Latu have both been included in the squad on the back of impressive NRC campaigns for the NSW Country Eagles. Both players were instrumental for Country in their run to the final, where they were eventually defeated by the Perth Spirit.
The Wallabies will be looking to complete their second successful Grand Slam by defeating England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland during this tour. Australia’s one and only Slam came back in 1984, with the two subsequent attempts all falling short.
The Wallabies will also play France, as well as a match against the French Barbarians on November 17, during their tour of Europe, for which they depart on Friday, October 28.
Wallabies 32-man squad for 2016 Spring Tour
Allan Alaalatoa (5 Tests)
Rory Arnold (6 Tests)
Adam Coleman (7 Tests)
Quade Cooper (64 Tests)
Kane Douglas (28 Tests)
Scott Fardy (37 Tests)
Israel Folau (48 Tests)
Bernard Foley (37 Tests)
Nick Frisby (3 Tests)
Will Genia (72 Tests)
Kyle Godwin*
James Hanson (12 Tests)
Dane Haylett-Petty (10 Tests)
Reece Hodge (6 Tests)
Michael Hooper (61 Tests)
Sekope Kepu (73 Tests)
Marika Koroibete*
Tevita Kuridrani (40 Tests)
Tolu Latu*
Sean McMahon (12 Tests)
Stephen Moore (c) (112 Tests)
Dean Mumm (53 Tests)
Sefanaia Naivalu (2 Tests)
Nick Phipps (48 Tests)
David Pocock (61 Tests)
Tom Robertson (4 Tests)
Rob Simmons (66 Tests)
Scott Sio (25 Tests)
Will Skelton (16 Tests)
Henry Speight (6 Tests)
James Slipper (82 Tests)
Lopeti Timani (3 Tests)
Wallabies 2016 Spring Tour schedule
Wales vs Wallabies at Millennium Stadium, 6th November 1.30am AEDT
Scotland vs Wallabies at Murrayfield, 13th November, 1.30am AEDT
France vs Wallabies at Stade de France, 20th November, 7.00am AEDT
Ireland vs Wallabies at Aviva Stadium, 27th November, 4.30am AEDT
England vs Wallabies at Twickenham, 4th December, 1.30am AEDT
What!
Guest
And I have a few suggestions for what you should change your name to but I dont think the moderators would like my suggestions too much.
Squirrel
Guest
The ARU should have to pay the Fiji R U for having such a great grassroots that produce so many wallabies .
What!
Guest
Mate. I will do whatever I want but thanks for your advice. Aus has threatened NZ every year and either beaten them or drawn with them in most years recently except for this one. They have a young squad and are transitioning from the 2015 squad to the one they have now. They will improve and threaten NZ imo. Given the history I think thats less fantasy than saying they wont. I said at the start of this year that they would thrash Aus when people were suggesting NZ were vulnerable. To me it was obvious NZ would get better and Aus slightly worse. But you come on here spouting words you dont fully understand telling me my opinion is a fantasy brought on by my loyalty to the Wallabies? Pull your head in. Your just laying the boot into Aus like the base fans around here and acting like your superior in doing so. YOU ARE NOT. P.S. Terra firma means the ground, any ground. Not home ground.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Problem is - when you play him at 4 or 5 then the weaknesses of "fitness and line out" are kinda big weaknesses!! He has never lived up to his potential. He could be a wrecking ball and really punch holes in the defense but he just doesn't. Look at how Vunipola has improved his game for Saracens and England. He used to be slow and would come off early because of lack of stamina. This past year he has become a world leading #8 and tore the Aussies a new one in the Tests earlier this year. If Skelton can get fit, jump better in the line out and really run through defenders then he could be the first name on the Wallaby team sheet for years. But if he hasn't done it yet what's to say he'll ever do it?
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
What ! Change your name to paradox ! Your sentiments are flawed contradictory discourse .
Nigel
Guest
There should a travelling non playing up and coming Wallaby of the future, the Tongan Thor for experience!!!
Joe
Roar Rookie
I hope Koroibete does well on tour. Looking forward to seeing him play his first union game hopefully for the baabaas. I think he has the potential to be an excellent winger in Union.
What!
Guest
Well Im from NZ and not loyal to Aus but unlike you I live in the real world. I didnt say that anyone would make any team, merely that that backline would threaten the NZ team. Because it would. You live in your fantasy land where nobody would threaten NZ but I will live in this world, the real one. But thanks for explaining that my opinion about a future Wallaby team is hypothetical. Who knew. Your full of great insight. But yeah, Aus wont threaten NZ...like they did in 2015 & 2014 & 2013 & 2012 & 2011 and...Because they didnt this year so...
PiratesRugby
Guest
If Mumm gets picked then any sky blue wearing plodder gets picked too. Skelton kept Coleman and Arnold out of the test side all last year. Skelton's inclusion does have the benefit of keeping him topped up from the ARU. It is important that NSW gets as many advantages as possible. If it means non NSW players are kept out of the test side and the development of wallaby rugby is harmed then so be it. NSW won the title in 2014, and that is all that matters.
anopinion
Guest
Timana Tahu defending at in centre is evidence that being a good defender in RL is not the same as being a good defender in Rugby.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
What ! I admire your enthusiasm and loyalty for the Wallabies however , your notion that those backs combinations would threaten NZ is not only hypothetical , but indulging in fantasy . Only Folau would make the AB team and it would probably be on the bench . The Wallabies simply haven't got the cattle to challenge NZ in the foreseeable future .
soapit
Guest
i agree with daveski koriobete would have played at least a few origins by now if he was eligible
What!
Guest
Not as consistent as B.Smith and Daggs been low on form a bit. Folau is a world 15 player imo. Even in this form Id pick him. Hed be where he would be for NZ...the wing. The world is blessed with some quality fullbacks right now. Hogg, Kearney, Brown, le Roux, Dagg, Smith, McKenzie, Halfpenny, Williams. I just dont see Folau as a fullback when compared to those guys. His skillset is different and I would pick him on the wing. 9 Genia 10 Foley/Cooper 11 Koribete 12 Kerevi 13 Kuridrani 14 Folau 15 Beale Is very good imo. It would destroy most teams and really threaten NZ. Also Arnold and Coleman look like an excellent combo and to my surprise Timani looks like the go at 8. They need to bring on a new hooker. I honestly think within a year Aus will be up close to NZ again. SA wont be but Eng will too.
CUW
Guest
like Folau ? :)
CUW
Guest
no he bends lines in Super rugger ; BUT super rugger is not test rugger.
watchWallabiesOnTV
Guest
The same in France. A continuous collapse since money is driving the rugby scene. Plethora of sycophants has replaced competence and long term management, forgetting the youth, the future. By the way... not only there. My rant of the week..
Squirrel
Guest
He will be an awesome try scoring machine
Sandgroper
Guest
Does anyone else think we should ditch Moore as (c) and go with a better player and on field leader? I think that Koroibete and Skelton are distractions. Given that Mick Byrne is polishing the necessary skills, the next part of the equation is the on field smarts department and personal example setting. I think we should be developing someone else. Squeak is not the answer to the challenge that we will face in Europe. A good start would be to pick an 80 min player. One of the ABs great skills is in leadership succession planning. An Australian weakness IMHO is that we think leadership is a gift, not a skill, that needs to be learned. There are probably a handful of potential future Wallaby captains in the background. This would seem to be a good time to look at an alternative. My bold prediction is that leadership will cost us the England test, if Moore stays as (c). I don't think Cheika has heard an old military quote, " ten men well led, will beat a hundred without a head!" Make the number 15 or 23 and I think it pretty much sums up the Wallaby predicament. It is a shame to see great commitment and raw talent misdirected. I see some potential for a great EYOT if the right leaders stand up and get a chance.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I totally agree with all that EJ and thanks
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Are you sure about Lowes. A lot of my mates seem to. Anyhow, I take your point but that is not the point I am making. I desire for better or worse them who have come through the grades so to speak. A reason for this is the spirit as much as the talent and the identity and ownership that commitment bring. I also have a fierce desire that they be naturalised and committed if they are in fact new migrants. It's not easy to explain and I fear being mistaken for parochialism. And Jake no I am not. Sorry for the misunderstanding