WATCH: Marika Koroibete opens Wallabies account with LETHAL finish
Marika Koroibete scoring for Wallabies against Springboks.
Wallabies wing Marika Koroibete scored a stunning opening try of this year’s Rugby Championship against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
With eight minutes on the clock in Pretoria, it was the visitors who struck first thanks to a clinical crossing from the powerful and speedy left wing.
Australia‘s try came from a lost lineout close to the halfway line after Springbok debutant Jean Kleyn pounced in the air and knocked the ball back.
Loose line-out
However, the loose possession was subsequently gobbled up by Allan Alaalatoa, whose work would have pleased his hooker David Porecki no end.
Australia then managed to work the ball wide to the left where Quade Cooper found Len Ikitau before Tom Wright sent Koroibete down the wing.
Koroibete displayed incredible pace to burn the likes of Andre Esterhuizen and Manie Libbok before grounding on the left-hand side of the pitch.
🇦🇺 That was an impressive finish from Marika Koroibete. #RSAvAUS pic.twitter.com/owKbgn7Nwz
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) July 8, 2023
It was the perfect start to Eddie Jones’ second tenure as Wallabies head coach, with the score coming after Libbok had missed a long-range penalty.
The Boks did manage to hit back soon after, however, with a successful Libbok penalty followed up by Kurt-Lee Arendse’s converted try for 10-5.
High-tempo start
The first quarter of the Loftus clash was played at a high tempo as both sides jostled to gain the early advantage in the Rugby Championship opener.
This season’s competition is a shortened version as the four teams will play each other just once, making every game pivotal in the race for the title.
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