Joe Schmidt explains Marika Koroibete’s omission as Wallabies star’s Test future comes into doubt
Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete and an insert of head coach Joe Schmidt. (Photo by James Foy/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire)
Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt has explained why Marika Koroibete is not in his 34-man squad for the November internationals.
Australia will tackle England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in back-to-back weekends in the United Kingdom next month but will do so without star winger Koroibete who was the only overseas-based player in Schmidt’s squad during the Rugby Championship.
The 32-year-old announced his retirement from international rugby after the 2023 World Cup but had a change of heart and answered Schmidt’s call ahead of the Rugby Championship campaign.
Koroibete’s omission
However, his start in the penultimate round of action against the All Blacks looks to be his final appearance for the Wallabies this year after missing out on the squad to travel north and Schmidt has explained the reasoning behind the Japan-based star’s omission.
“He’s just having a break, to be honest,” the Wallabies boss said.
“He probably felt he wasn’t at the very top of his game and he was a little bit flat after the season that he’d had.
“He’s required to be back and training with Panasonic (Wild Knights, his club in Japan) reasonably soon. So he’s going to get a break and then he’ll head back and he’s not a player that we (Rugby Australia) own so that’s part of the flexibilities that we need to have.
“It’s the flexibility that we have tried to have with Samu and Will as well.”
With Koroibete not included in the squad, Schmidt has included $5m NRL recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaali and fellow uncapped winger Harry Potter.
Rookies Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen have also retained their places in the squad after making their Test debuts earlier this year.
Schmidt adds that this is also the policy of the selectors who are looking to develop the talent in Australia.
“It’s also part of our policy to try to grow our local players and in the absence of Marika,” he said.
“I thought Dylan Pietsch was super in that last Test in Wellington, he did a great job on both sides of the ball.
“So it’s about trying to build confidence in our players. His (Pietsch’s) association with Marika over that period of time, almost by osmosis, you’re growing other players through the experienced players coming in and giving confidence.
“And I think Pietschy really grabbed the opportunity against the All Blacks in that Test in Wellington.”
Has Koroibete played his final Test?
After announcing his retirement last year and then making a U-turn on that decision, Schmidt was asked whether Koroibete would return to the Wallabies set-up again. This November is Australia’s last four Tests before they welcome the British and Irish Lions to their shores next year and the rather youthful squad could do with the experience that Koroibete would add having played 63 times for the side.
“They are discussions that will probably take place March, April next year, see how he’s going,” Schmidt explained.
“I watch his Panasonic games, I know Robbie Deans well enough to have a chat with Robbie as well and see how he’s tracking.
“At the same time, we’ve got some young wingers starting to come through and putting some pressure on, where Marika feels that pressure and it becomes a really tough decision for us.
“Selecting a squad is an unpleasant time for coaches because it’s not about the opportunity you offer to someone, it’s very much – of the 32 phone calls that I’ve made – it’s very much about the guys who haven’t made the Wallaby squad and are very close.
“Those decisions – like the matches themselves – sometimes there is very little between a decision of a guy getting in or not.”
