ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021

Boozing ban won't slow down Koroibete as he's tipped for return

All is seemingly forgiven with the Wallabies set to welcome back sinning superstar Marika Koroibete for Saturday’s do-or-die Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Auckland.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dropped alongside forwards Isi Naisarani and Pone Fa’amausili for a late-night drinking session, Koroibete is likely to be rushed straight back into Australia’s starting line-up with trans-Tasman bragging rights for another year on the line.

Andrew Kellaway impressed on his Wallabies run-on debut in last Saturday’s 33-25 defeat.

But with the Wallabies down 1-0 in the series and needing to win the remaining two Tests to avoid the Bledisloe Cup remaining in New Zealand for an 18th consecutive year, coach Dave Rennie is tipped to recall his strike winger at Kellaway’s expense.

And that’s fine by Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who said after angering teammates in the squad by breaking curfew the trio had been dealt with and served sufficient punishment.

RELATED: Rugby Australia deal with another alcohol issue after 7s team’s behaviour

“Guys like Marika and those other boys, they’ve worked hard over the past week and a bit. As a playing group, (we feel) they’re good men who made poor decisions and we know that,” the lock said on Tuesday.

“We’ve been building this culture for the best part of two years now under Dave and his guidance and we have no problem with telling each other off or poking each other in the chest.

“Marika works extremely hard and everyone knows that. I’m sure the fans know that at home, how hard he works, so you could only imagine how gutted he was.

ADVERTISEMENT

“So for us as a playing group, we accept their apology.”

Salakaia-Loto didn’t believe Koroibete, who is bound for Japan at year’s end, would use his ban as any sort of spur for a big game.

“Marika, you see every game that he plays, he treats it like his last,” he said.

“So if he gets the opportunity this week, he’ll be exactly the same as what he’s been in the past. He’s been one of our best players that we’ve had.”

ADVERTISEMENT

But the Wallabies know it will take more than Koroibete to break their 35-year losing streak at Eden Park.

The Wallabies conceded their first four lineouts at the burial ground last week to gift the All Blacks precious possession and improving the set-piece is imperative.

“You can’t win games if you don’t have the ball,” Salakaia-Loto said.

“We were in good parts of the field and those are the opportunities that we’ve got to take. We put ourselves in those parts of the field and, as a forward pack, we let our backs down.

“As locks and as a forward pack, we pride ourselves on our lineout and our scrum and especially on the maul. For us, we took that on the chin, we reviewed it and we’ll make some fixes and make sure we’re better for it this week.”

RELATED VIEWING: 

Comments




Related Articles

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    Ellis Genge puts on his boxing gloves ready...

  • 71 WEEKS AGO

    Crazy scenes as player deliberately kicks...

  • 71 WEEKS AGO

    RFU make decision on transgender players...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Seriously impressive Courtney Lawes compilation released after England player calls time on international career

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji number eight Viliame 'Bill' Mata scores audacious try

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Wild scenes in Toulouse as Portugal seal last gasp comeback win over Fiji

  • 13 WEEKS AGO

    South African schoolboy produces the greatest goosey in the sport

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible team try showcases thrills of the grassroots game

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Monster hit from Perrin leaves Bristol Bears player stunned

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Posolo Tuilagi's massive tackle lights up Top 14

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Theo Dan in the centre of 'punch' storm as possible infringement missed

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Seriously impressive Courtney Lawes compilation released after England player calls time on international career

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Compilation video shows Jamie George's surprising box of tricks

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Eddie Jones reported to have negotiated return to Japan national side

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Rees Zammit hits Olympic level as 100m sprint time is officially finally released

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Shocking record set to be broken at this year’s World Cup

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible team try showcases thrills of the grassroots game

View All

Funnies

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Luke Cowan-Dickie left red faced after losing very costly bet

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Mack Hansen proves once again that he is a hero in Ireland

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Irish players brilliantly take the p*** out of Sexton on plane intercom

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Brilliant video of Andy Farrell readying the Irish troops for battle

View All

Amateur

  • 47 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 47 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 71 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 16 HOURS AGO

    Exclusive Intervew: From Bristol to Benetton - The Andy Uren story

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Transfer News: George North to take considerable talents to France

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Tom Foley takes break from officiating international matches following death threats

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    James Haskell shares thoughts on 'best mate' Owen Farrell

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    The key change Steve Borthwick has made to England squad selection

View All