Wallabies fans raging after questionable early red card for Marika Koroibete

Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete was sent off in the opening five minutes of Saturday’s Test match against France for a high tackle.

The Melbourne Rebels star hit French number eight Anthony Jelonch in the shoulder/neck area which following a TMO referral, was deemed dangerous by the officials.

Marika Koroibete is gone for the night 🟥

Stan Sport, the Home of Rugby. Ad-free, Live & On Demand.#AUSvFRA #Wallabies pic.twitter.com/NFSyAKnxPU

— StanSportAU (@StanSportAU) July 17, 2021

Referee Ben O’Keefe showed a red card to the winger which left him speechless at Suncorp Stadium while Wallabies fans expressed their disbelief in the decision through social media.

Former Wallaby Tim Horan said during commentary: “I thought he got sucked into it. I thought it was a great tackle, a great shot.”

Despite the early set back it was the Wallabies that stole a dramatic win in Brisbane to secure a 2-1 win for the series Down Under and full match highlights are available below:

REACTION:

Koroibete getting sent for that is an embarrassment. This sport is wrecked. Pack it in. #AUSvFRA

— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) July 17, 2021

To those defending the call against Koroibete, I frozen THE WORST angle for the @wallabies at the point of contact.Can you explain:
1. Direct contact to the head but Jelonch’s chin is above Koroibete’s shoulder
2. No mitigation but Jelonch clearly lowered his body height #AUSvFRA pic.twitter.com/aH531T4qPS

— #rugbyaustralia (@RugbyAUS) July 17, 2021

Final thoughts on Koroibete red@WorldRugby have allowed refereeing to reach this point due to a complete lack of accountability + it’s hard to envisage what will have to happen for something to change.

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The 20 min red must be brought in to stop the impact of weekly howlers. pic.twitter.com/b1Vy71OmxQ

— Sam Phillips (@samphillips06) July 17, 2021

Would love the red card brigade to explain the Koroibete red. Bonkers

— ʙʀᴇɴᴅᴏɴ sʜɪᴇʟᴅs (@rugbycology) July 17, 2021

I almost spilled the penfolds on my yacht the Koroibete call was so bad#AUSvFRA

— Cometh the Mo-ment, Cometh: The Man (@Budulnya) July 17, 2021

“Theres no mitigation, theres no significant drop” 🤔🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

Koroibete had his back bent 90 degrees 🤷🏻‍♂️ The French player dropped and leant into it. Yellow at worst. #AUSvFRA https://t.co/vNnuIyF95Y

— Shaun Dennison (@Rhinoshaund_VI) July 17, 2021

To be fair, there was mitigating factor there. French player dropped while Koroibete was committed to that tackle. Could have been a 🟨 https://t.co/EeG63vIEqV

— Jerry (@JVVeisa) July 17, 2021

Sonny Bill Williams’ thoughts on the red card for Koroibete 🟥 #AUSvFRA pic.twitter.com/1CKeLxjDjS

— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) July 17, 2021

Usually nothing funnier than watching Aussies get a bad call, but giving a red because the opposition player is play acting is the end of the game of rugby. It just becomes fat lad wendyball. #AUSvFRA #koroibete

— Peter Handley (@TheBerts) July 17, 2021

“We need to protect the players safety, but we need to protect the game too.” @SonnyBWilliams, on the referees decision to send-off Koroibete. Please fix this @WorldRugby. #AUSvFRA

— Kelvin Anthony (@kelvinfiji) July 17, 2021