Wallabies workhorse Koroibete best in the world but hasnt earned a rest just yet
The Wallabies are set to resist the urge to rest high workload stars such as Marika Koroibete as Dave Rennieâs side strive to build on back-to-back wins against the world champion Springboks.
Koroibete was sensational in Saturdayâs 30-17 win against South Africa. The star winger scored a double but a video which highlighted his immense work rate has once again sparked a conversation regarding whether heâs the best winger in world rugby.
The clip shows Koroibete packing down on the blindside of a scrum while Lachlan Swinton was in the sin bin just before half-time.
After Faf de Klerk cleared the ball from the back of the scrum, Koroibete sprints the width of the field in time to start a counter ruck which ensured Australia would go into the break with a 15-12 lead intact.
The vision typified the work rate which has Koroibete marked a class above all other wingers in world rugby by Australian selectors.
âWhen I first came back here, I had watched him overseas, but he was more rugby league than rugby union,â RA director of rugby Scott Johnson told the Herald.
Marika Koroibete also grabbed two second-half tries in the win over the Springboks on Saturday night.Credit:Getty
âNow, you see the skills that he possesses â" the long passes, the kicking â" and his work rate on the weekend was nothing short of phenomenal.
âAny aspiring young winger that wants to see a role model of whatâs required in the professional game, look at his game.â
On current form, Johnson declared that he would not pick any winger in the world in front of the Wallabies flyer.
âOn form, heâs the best winger in the world. I think he is,â Johnson said. âWeâre always seeking World XV players, and heâd be in a World XV right now.â
RA chair Hamish McLennan labelled Koroibete, who will begin a four-year deal with Panasonic Wild Knights next season, as a Wallabies great.
âObviously, he wants to look after his family. But he will go down as one of the Wallabies greats,â McLennan said. âWe definitely want him back one day.â
Koroibete has played 231 of 240 possible minutes in the Wallabiesâ last three Tests â" against the All Blacks and Springboks.
But despite being in the middle of an unusually high workload block of five Tests in five weeks, team sources have told the Herald the Wallabies are likely to resist the urge to rest stars such as Koroibete and tireless captain Michael Hooper against the Pumas.
The chief selection dilemma is at fullback, where the Wallabies must replace Tom Banks.
Banks is expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks after he suffered a fractured arm against the Springboks at Suncorp Stadium.
The Brumbies star has been Rennieâs first choice No.15 since he took the reins as coach, largely due to his proficiency under the high ball.
But he will almost certainly miss the remainder of the season and that has left a hole in a Wallabies backline which is starting to stabilise.
Rennie will be forced to choose between Reece Hodge, Jordan Petaia and James OâConnor at fullback.
The Wallabies will announce their 23-man squad for the clash with Mario Ledesmaâs side on Thursday.
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