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South African fans are still not happy with Marika Koroibete after latest hit
By Sam Smith
Marika Koroibete continued his run of dishing out punishing tackles with a beaut on his opposite number Caleb Clarke in the first Bledisloe Cup test in Melbourne.
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Chasing a kick into the All Blacks backfield early in the first half, Clarke had to jump in the air to catch a high bounce which left him slightly vulnerable to a charging Koroibete.
The Wallabies wing timed his contact perfectly and smashed Clarke over backward just after the All Black landed back on the Marvel Stadium turf. Pinned near his own try line, Australia almost turned the ball over with a counter-ruck.
Listed at 107kg, Clarke is no slight figure to move highlighting the force that Koroibete can bring at speed.
Koroibete goes 💥
Live blog 👉 https://t.co/dK9UKGejEO#Wallabies #TRC2022 #AUSvNZL pic.twitter.com/bGcCxGfm01
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) September 15, 2022
Clarke became the second winger to feature in a Koroibete highlight tackle in this Rugby Championship after Springbok Makazole Mapimpi was stopped in a heavy collision near the goal line in Adelaide.
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South African fans were less than impressed with the Wallabies left wing, feeling aggrieved that the flying Fijian failed to wrap his arms in the contact in this week’s tackle.
Replays of Koroibete’s tackle did show an attempt to wrap both arms around Clarke but the All Black bounced off Koroibete in the process.
Another big shot from Marika Koroibete.
Doesn’t wrap again.#AUSvNZL pic.twitter.com/S1NOdv0atd
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 15, 2022
How is that hit on Clarke by Koroibete okay??? No arms. Nothing??!!!
Smh.#AUSVNZL #BledisloeCup #RugbyChampionship— KingShakaZulu’sDaughter✊🏿❤ (@Thembileeh) September 15, 2022
Also Marika Koroibete needs to learn to wrap in the tackle
— Ruben Kihumuro Steyne (@kihumuroruben) September 15, 2022
koroibete has the best arm wrapping shoulder of all time !#justsaying #AUSvNZL
— mrRugby (@MRrugbyworldcup) September 15, 2022
Koroibete absolutely destryed Clarke there 🔥 #AUSvNZL
— Sin ? 🍥 (@Easterlytester) September 15, 2022
What about this Illegal tackle from Koroibete… he makes no attempt to wrap his arms just shoulder vibes it’s becoming a habit from him pic.twitter.com/M3SFQm3BjX
— Lord Stig-rus (@Lord_Stirus) September 15, 2022
Huyu Koroibete ni kama ana laws zake za tackle…ku wrap si must.
— Poghie Ndonga (@poghie_esquire) September 15, 2022
Koroibete keeps getting away with illegal tackles.
— kwets (@kwets11) September 15, 2022
There seemed to be no issues with the Clarke tackle from Kiwi fans or journos, with New Zealand Herald writer Chris Reive describing the hit as ‘beautiful’.
How was the hit from Koroibete on Clarke though? Beautiful #AUSvNZL
— Christopher Reive (@ChrisReive) September 15, 2022
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The Koroibete tackle that was raised by New Zealander fans in the social media court of opinion was an aerial challenge on Will Jordan that went unpunished late in the game.
The All Blacks right wing fielded a kick in the air before having his legs taken out by a reckless Koroibete challenge. Referee Mathieu Raynal let play go on and the tackle was not reviewed at the time.
Nonsense we Love the Fijian Koroibete. Like we love the Samoan All Black Captain Ardie Savea. Pity they playing for other countries... Yeah yeah I know, "we don't poach these players etc" But why no Maori or Pacific Islander in the AB coaching setup? Time to support the island nations with your multi million dollar Silverlake or to be honest and develop on all levels in NZ.