Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt plans to speak to Saitama Wild Knights' Robbie Deans about Marika Koroibete’s availability for Australia’s end-of-year Autumn Nations Series tour.
Koroibete, 32, who scored eight tries for the League One runners-up last season, will miss Saturday's second Bledisloe Test against New Zealand after sustaining a wrist injury in the 31-28 defeat in Sydney.
The injury was worse than first thought and the Fiji-born wing will be replaced by Western Force’s Tokyo 2020 sevens Olympian Dylan Pietsch.
“It swelled up on the flight across,” Schmidt told Rugby Australia.
“It wasn’t too bad post-game, the morning after it was pretty uncomfortable, we had it scanned and it’s quite inflamed and uncomfortable so he’s not ready to play.”
Schmidt, who led Ireland to three Six Nations titles, added: “He wasn’t fully right to train and do any contact so if he’s not right today, it’s a risk for the weekend and Dylan Pietsch had done well off the bench.”
The Wallabies will embark on their annual end-of-year Northern Hemisphere tour in November.
Australia play England at Allianz Stadium (formerly Twickenham) in London on 9 November and then Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 17 November.
The two-time Rugby World Cup winners will conclude a turbulent year against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on 30 November.
Schmidt’s injury-hit squad would receive a big boost if former League One winner Koroibete can link up with the squad in November.
The former Melbourne Storm wing has not been part of his country’s Northern Hemisphere tour since joining Saitama in 2021.
"That's a discussion between Marika, myself and his Japanese club which won't happen until after this block when we have a window to review and follow up with guys like Marika," said Schmidt.
Saitama, who has appeared in all three League One finals, kick off their 2024-25 campaign against Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath at the 48,000-capacity Ajinomoto Stadium in Chofu, Tokyo on 21 December.
Picture courtesy of Saitama Wild Knights
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