Rugby world divided after Koroibete obliterates Mapimpi
Makazole Mapimpi receiving the ball in space, ten metres from the try line usually means one thing – try time. However, things are different when you play Marika Koroibete.
The Boks’ try scoring machine looked like he was going to add another one to his tally in the closing minutes of the first half in Adelaide, but for the Wallabies left wing, who sprinted from the other side of the field to meet the South African in the corner and smash him into touch.
It was a monstrous hit, but since then there has been plenty of debate online regarding Koroibete’s tackle technique. South African fans are claiming that there was no arm involved in the tackle, while Australian fans are saying that there was clear intent to wrap his arms, but the contact was so huge. The Australian certainly led with the shoulder, which can create problems, but equally he did then try and wrap his left arm, as there is obvious contact between his arm and Mapimpi’s body. It is easy to see both sides of the argument in this case.
Take a look at the tackle:
How did the Wallabies stop this try?! 🤯🤯
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To make matters even worse for South Africa, it was from the resulting scrum that Faf de Klerk received his yellow card for his fairly tame tap to the face of Nic White. This was not a good few minutes for the Boks, and referee Paul Williams has copped a lot of flak.
Worse still, Koroibete went on not only to score a try, but produce a player of the match performance, just to add salt to the wound.
Wallabies XV
1. James Slipper (c) (119 Tests)
2. Folau Fainga’a (30 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (56 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (30 Tests)
5. Matt Philip (24 Tests)
6. Jed Holloway (2 Tests)
7. Fraser McReight (4 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (23 Tests)
9. Nic White (52 Tests)
10. Noah Lolesio (12 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (47 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (18 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (17 Tests)
14. Tom Wright (14 Tests)
15. Reece Hodge (57 Tests)
Replacements
16. David Porecki (3 Tests)
17. Scott Sio (71 Tests)
18. Taniela Tupou (42 Tests)
19. Darcy Swain (13 Tests)
20. Rob Leota (10 Tests)
21. Pete Samu (24 Tests)
22. Tate McDermott (17 Tests)
23. Andrew Kellaway (14 Tests)
Springbok XV
15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 20 caps, 12 pts (1t, 2c, 1p)
14 – Warrick Gelant (Racing 92) – 10 caps, 15 pts (3t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 30 caps, 30 pts (6t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 62 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 29 caps, 105 pts (21t)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 64 caps, 662 pts (7t, 90c, 144p, 5d)
9 – Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles) – 39 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 62 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 62 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 67 caps, 35 pts (7t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 60 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 102 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 50 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers) – 3 caps, 0pts
1 – Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) – 11 caps, 0pts
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 51 caps, 55 pts (11t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 63 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Wasps) 36 caps, 0 pts
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 55 caps, 5pts (1t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 23 caps, 5 pts (1t)
21 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 6 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22 – Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) – 45 caps, 329 pts (2t, 65c, 62p, 1d)
23 – Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 74 caps, 150 pts (11t, 7c, 24p, 3d)