Wallabies to unleash their silent assassin

SHOULD the Welsh be fixated on the giant Wallabies centres playing “Monster Ball” against them, they will have taken their eyes off the sting that is surely coming from silent wing weapon Marika Koroibete in Cardiff.

Of all the 11 backs given chances by coach Michael Cheika in his 18-month transformation of the Wallabies, no one has added more exciting X-factor than the former Melbourne Storm NRL finisher who will play in Cardiff early tomorrow morning.

Koroibete is like a shiny new toy for the playmakers. Kurtley Beale will likely chip kick again for Koroibete as he did perfectly against Japan last weekend, Bernard Foley has targeted him for two long-ball tries in Bloemfontein and both now want to use him more in midfield set plays.

“At the start of the year he probably thought he wouldn’t play much Test footy, but he’s sort of made the jersey his own doing some pretty incredible things,” said five-eighth Foley.

Koroibete actually isn’t that silent anymore.

“When he first came in [to tour a year ago] he didn’t say a word for three or four months, but watching him open up, laugh and now be one of the loudest is something I enjoy on top of him offering that genuine out-and-out pace we’ve probably lacked,” halfback Will Genia said.

There are fascinating match-ups across rebranded Principality Stadium for this Test. How bullocking Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani can tenderise Dan Biggar and Owen Williams, the dual playmakers picked by Wales, Wallabies pillar Adam Coleman stepping up against craggy Welsh lock Alun Wyn Jones and Koroibete opposing sidestepping Welsh wing Steff Evans are just three.

“Adam is certainly up for the battle because he’s going to get a real taste against an outstanding talisman in the dark arts of forward play and technique,” Cheika said.

Cheika is demanding one major improvement to keep feeding chances.

“We were taken to town at the ruck by Japan, where we lost half a dozen of our balls so if we want to play attacking footy you’ve got to own those rucks,” Cheika said.

The players have talked of pushing hard for more wins on this tour rather than seeing the 23-18 upset of the All Blacks last month as the summit.