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Panel reach outcome on Marika Koroibete red card
By AAP
Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete is set to return for the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship after escaping suspension for an alleged high tackle.
Koroibete fronted a World Rugby judicial committee on Monday night to fight the dangerous tackle charge after controversially being shown an early red card in Australia's series-deciding test win over France on Saturday night.
Koroibete was dismissed after just five minutes of the third test in Brisbane for a tackle on France captain Anthony Jelonch. Post-match, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie stated that he felt Jelonch had "terribly milked" the incident.
An independent panel chaired by New Zealand's Helen Morgan and supported by ex-players Mike Mika and Chris Smith tended to agree, exonerating Koroibete after considering all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from the player and his representative.
"The player Marika Koroibete admitted to technically committing an act of foul play worthy of a red card," SANZAAR said in a statement.
"Having reviewed all the evidence, the committee deemed that Marika Koroibete's tackle on French loose-forward Anthony Jelonch initially made shoulder to shoulder contact at the fifth minute of the game.
"Subsequently, through the impact, any contact to the chest and neck was incidental by Koroibete.
"Therefore, World Rugby's Head Contact Process was not met due to mitigating factors, and the act of the foul play was secondary.
"On that basis, the committee did not uphold the red card and the player is free to play again immediately."
Arguably Australia's best player in the opening two tests against Les Bleus, the 37-test Wallaby Koroibete is now free to to take on the All Blacks in the first match of the Bledisloe Cup series and Rugby Championship at Eden Park on August 7.
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Latest Comments
It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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