Marika Koroibete will miss the Wallabies’ Spring Tour of Japan and the United Kingdom for personal reasons.
Coach Dave Rennie confirmed on Sunday the star winger, who endured a frustrating Rugby Championship, will remain in Australia for family reasons.
Promising prop Pone Fa’amausili will also miss the tour after aggravating a calf injury at training.
“Marika’s chosen not to tour,” Rennie said.
“We’ve been discussing it for a while. Obviously we let him go home a week early during The Rugby Championship.
“COVID’s thrown a lot of curveballs at all of us. Marika’s been away from home for a long time, [wife] Emma’s pretty isolated; they’ve had a newborn baby and they’ve got a couple of other young boys.”
>> The Wallabies’ full Spring Tour squad as it stands
In addition to missing the Wallabies’ final Rugby Championship game against Argentina, Koroibete was also banned from the Bledisloe Cup opener in August after breaking the team’s drinking policy during a night out.
Koroibete’s absence against the Pumas enabled Rennie to try Jordan Petaia in the number 14 jersey. He said the 29-year old’s withdrawal from the tour afford similar chances for fringe players to break into the starting team.
The winger’s impending move to Japan next season to play with Top League side Wild Knights could also allow the tour to become ideal preparation should Koroibete’s departure affect his chances of Wallabies selection.
Marika Koroibete of the Wallabies looks dejected as he leaves the field after being given a red card. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
“As always, it’s an opportunity, isn’t it? Marika didn’t play the last game [against Argentina]. Jordie [Petaia] got a start, it gave Tom Wright a sniff off the bench who played really well,” Rennie said.
“Marika’s an unbelievable player, massive work ethic and physicality, so big shoes to feel. But we feel… it’s a position we’ve got a bit of depth in.”
Rennie said despite the twin setbacks, he had no immediate plans to call replacements into the squad.
“We think we’ve got enough numbers here in Japan, [but] we’ll work that out once we get to the UK,” he said.
British-based winger Luke Morahan has already been mooted as a potential Koroibete replacement for the second part of the tour. The 31-year old has played three Tests for the Wallabies and has become a key player for the Bristol Bears in the Premiership, and Rennie is keeping the door ajar for him to be added to the squad.
“Obviously, we were watching him [Morahan], as we’ve been looking at lots of players around the globe,” he said, while forecasting a call-up was more likely than sending an SOS back to Australia should further injuries strike.
We’ve made a real commitment to the guys we’ve left behind to go straight on leave, and to come back in November to have a decent off-season. We’re very focused on maintaining that, which will mean we won’t look back at home to try and bring someone over.”
Fa’amausili’s setback is the latest in a series of injuries that have dogged the 24-year old in 2021. The prop was a chance of being named for a Wallabies debut during the Championship, only for a hamstring niggle to allow veteran Greg Holmes to make a surprise return.
“He’s had ongoing issues around calves and hamstrings,” Rennie said.
“We’ll leave him at home to have a decent off-season and try and get that right.”
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Its the shuffling of the player for the team benefit which costs the guy moving which i was highlighting, burke later lamented doing so.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'd have thought: 4. Feao Fotuaika 5. Tom Ross 6. Harry Johnson-Holmes Based on Scrummaging - HJH a significant step up around the pitch but I don't think that is a reason to pick him.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Orr has missed a lot of rugby as well OOP. Orr/Uelese/Fa'amausili is a very good front row that seems to be missing a lot of matches. Gibbon/Eloff have been more consistent so maybe not the programme or they are more resilient players.
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Lol it is up to RA, they can tell players to get a proper off season or make suggestions to get playing time elsewhere.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Lol its not up to RA - its up to NZR and they are not going to develop Aussie 10s for RA ...
Faith
Roar Rookie
Kbete brings a lot of heart to the WBs - dude goes full tilt all 80, all Tests.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Burke and Rogers - those were great players. Top 3 in their positions in the world at the time. That's the real difference. Hodge far from that.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Isn't Malakai injured?
Faith
Roar Rookie
Eddie will make sure that Lynagh is capped ASAP lol ...
SDHoneymonster
Guest
England squad announced later today (it's 10am on these shores), if Lynagh's not in it maybe Dave's worked some magic. Still reckon a cheeky flutter on him debuting for England against Australia is worthwhile - I think Eddie would absolutely love the amount of howling in the Aussie press and gloating in the English press it would generate!
jameswm
Roar Guru
??? What are you talking about?
Jokerman
Roar Guru
You can blame this issue on Jordie! How dare he boot the marvellous Koroibete in the face! It seems to me it’s a time duel and the PTSD has awoken. Jordie gets alway with it whilst Koroibete plummets to his demise. Life is not always fair. My sage advice for Koroibete: please let it go. And have a drink in peace !
Rhys
Roar Rookie
He misses Japan due to the bubble arrangements but returns for Europe
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Being seen as a mr Fixit holds the same problem as we’ve seen him get shuffled to and fro without any real improvement in any spot. He may drop out of the wallabies 23. Meakes was a solid 12 but imo if Hodge said he only wanted to be seen as a 12, 13 etc, he could’ve developed and shown more improvement. It’s a slightly different situation but reminds me a bit of how Burke was moved to 13 at the Tahs to accomodate Rogers at 15, then found himself out of the wallabys starting team for Rogers.
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t think so but depends on ones viewpoint.
Ethel McAAVaaarK
Guest
I`d have Perese in for MK at 11 and Foketi in for Kerevi at 12.
Matt
Guest
Bodger , Brad Thorn really needs to lift his game as Reds coach.The Reds forwards were not selected by Rennie and Johnson because they didn`t play tough enough in 2021 . It all starts at the top. Thorn needs to get these boys in shape for test rugby as currently all of them are not good enough apart from Tupou.
Geoff
Guest
HJH surely is the 4th best tight-head in oz now.He played really good for the tahs at super level against all teams this year.
JP
Guest
Cheika killed scores of players careers over his failed test coaching career. He is now rubbing off that negative energy onto Argentina.I wonder how long it will take Mario to realize Cheika is a bum.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Fardy was forced out