Marika Koroibete is the 'benchmark' for Test wingers
Describing him as the benchmark Test winger, Will Jordan knows he will have his hands full trying to contain Wallabies game-breaker Marika Koroibete in Thursday's Bledisloe Cup encounter.
The All Blacks winger will be in Koroibete's firing line at Marvel Stadium with the Fijian flyer being up front this week about what the Wallabies needed to bring to upset their trans-Tasman rivals.
Playing his 50th Test, Koroibete has promised extra "aggression and brutality" as the Australians look to end a 19-year Bledisloe domination by New Zealand.
Jordan said he was ready for the challenge.
"I've matched up with Marika a few times over the years and he's a pretty punishing ball-runner and certainly goes out with all guns blazing," Jordan said on Tuesday from their Melbourne base.
"He's probably been setting the benchmark for wingers over the last two or three years so it's always exciting playing against him - it's a real challenge."
The Wallabies have named a new fullback in Andrew Kellaway, with Tom Wright on the other wing and Jordan felt it was a well-balanced back three.
"You've got the power of Marika on the left and Tom Wright with his speed and footwork and Kellaway was pretty strong in the three Tests against us last year so it's a good balance of different games styles; a pretty strong unit."
While he didn't get across the line himself, Jordan was part of the All Blacks' seven-try 53-3 romp over Argentina in their last outing.
He said attack coach Joe Schmidt, who has taken on a bigger role over the past month amid some indifferent form from his charges, had been a big influence.
"Over the three months or so it's been a little bit tough getting the ball out wide and I've had some great chats with Joe Schmidt in particular in the last couple of week about how we can influence the game a bit more when the ball's not coming our way," said Jordan, who has played 19 Tests.
"It's about having as much impact and influence off the ball as on it and then when you do get the opportunity with ball in hand ... I'm getting pretty excited, under the roof so hopefully a bit of running footy."
- Melissa Woods
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Get world rugby to buy a few Islands in the Mediterranean. Name them Rugby Island #1, #2, #3 etc. All teams are based there all season and as the knockouts progress, losers go home for a few months rest. Sell the TV rights to any and all.
Have an open ballot/lottery each week to fly fans out to fill the stadiums. They get to enter the draw if they pay their taxes and avoid crime which would encourage good social engagement from rugby supporters as responsible citizens. The school kids get in the draw if they are applying themselves at school and reaching their potential.
Or maybe there is some magic way to prioritise both domestic rugby and international rugby by having the same players playing for 12 months of the year...
Go to commentsPerhaps he would have been better off going under the knife earlier, rather than travelling to Europe to hold tackle bags.
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