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Wallabies star Marika Koroibete may have played final test match

BY Philip Bendon  ·  Wednesday Oct 23, 2024

Veteran Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete may have donned the gold jersey for the final time having missed out on selection for the upcoming November Internationals.

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Speaking about the winger’s absence, head coach Joe Schmidt explained that the 32 year old needed a break and that he was keen to see how younger options performed.

“He’s just having a break. He probably felt he wasn’t at the very top of his game, and he was a little bit flat after the season he had,” Schmidt said.

“He is required to be back and training with (Japanese club) Panasonic reasonably soon.

“He’s not a player we own, and that is one of the flexibilities you need to have with these guys.

“In the absence of Marika, I thought Dylan Pietsch was super in that last Test in Wellington.”

When pressed further on the topic of Koroibete’s future, Schmidt said discussions were ongoing but was keen to stress the need to bring through young talent.

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“They are discussions that will probably take place in March or April next year and see how he’s going.

“I watch his Panasonic games, I know (his coach) Robbie Deans well enough to have a chat with Robbie as well and see how he is tracking.

“At the same time, we have got some young wingers starting to come through and put some pressure on.”

Shifting his focus to former captain Will Skelton who has been included in the Wallabies squad, Schmidt that his selection was the first step but that they had not discussed any future plans.

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“We haven’t talked about the Lions to be honest,” Schmidt said.

“He’s keen as mustard (to play these Tests). He doesn’t take any convincing to play for the Wallabies.

“It’s one of those things that if we didn’t get Will and Samu involved in this window, I think it would be very difficult to have them involved in the Lions.

“This is part of an investment for that.”

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