Marika Koroibete in line for Wallabies comeback

Wallabies wing Marika Koroibete is likely to be recalled to the team to face New Zealand in their must-win clash at Eden Park on Saturday.

Koroibete was one of three players made unavailable for selection for last week’s Bledisloe Cup game in Auckland after a late-night drinking session.

He joined forwards Isi Naisarani and Pone Fa’amausili in missing that 33-25 defeat to the All Blacks but the wing now appears set to make a comeback.

Good men

“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,” Australia second-row Lukhan Salakaia-Loto told reporters 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.

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

The absence of Koroibete, who has been one of Australia’s standout performers of late, was felt in Auckland last week as his power and pace was missed.

But Salakaia-Loto was quick to reject talk that the lethal finisher would be eager to make a statement after his ban, saying he always plays at a high level.

“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.”

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