Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has resisted the temptation to pull the trigger on Marika Koroibete’s selection as he prepares to take on the Springboks on Saturday.
Schmidt opted for the same back three that made the difference against Wales as Filipo Daugunu, Andrew Kellaway and Tom Wright retained their spots.
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The two-time John Eales Medalist was brought into the squad as the only overseas player alongside explosive duo Corey Toole and Max Jorgensen.
With Koroibete only recently joining the squad and Toole (Sevens) and Jorgensen (injury) working their way into camp, Schmidt opted for his in-form trio.
“Marika wasn't quite ready,” Schmidt noted to the media. "This week was about orientating him and getting him back up to speed.
“I think Marika will be available beyond this week, but this week was a little bit too soon.
“...It's a little bit the same with Corey Toole, Max Jorgensen, those guys who were fresh in this week. It's a whole new language to learn. Just to get comfortable in the systems, it's just to give him enough time really.
“He's a character Marika around about the place in a really positive sense.
"He has a real sense of the game that allows him to get involved at the right moments. He works hard across the field. I've always thought, coaching against him, that he's an absolute handful.”
It’s a similar scenario for prop Angus Bell as he returns from a toe injury.
Schmidt has shown faith in young gun Isaac Kailea to start as James Slipper makes up close to 75% of the Test match experience on the bench.
“He's another guy who's in a really good position to offer more. I had a chat to Angus just after training today. I thought he trained really well,” he notes. “His confidence in his fitness and his readiness is increasing. It'd be great to be able to get him back into the picture as well.
“One of the dangers is being so anxious to get someone back involved, you put them in when they're not quite ready and no one really wins on the back of that.
“(Not) the guy who's had the position so far and is working hard, he's still trying to earn his place and then the guy who's coming in, if he's not quite ready and not quite at the peak of his confidence, then he'll probably lose out either way.”
