VIDEO: Koroibete hat-trick puts Rebels back on track
Koroibete's three tries – to go with two from fellow wing Jack Maddocks and one from hard-running No.8 Amanaki Mafi – saw the Rebels demolish the Sunwolves 40-13 in Melbourne on Friday.
The result means they closed the gap the Waratahs have on them to just one point – just ahead of the June break.
For the Sunwolves – coming off consecutive wins against the Reds and Stormers at home – it was another loss on the road.
The Japanese franchise has now lost 20 straight away from home.
The Melbourne side raced to a 21-7 lead, after trailing by seven in the fourth minute.
Hayden Parker kicked two penalties to reduce the deficit to eight (21-13) at the break.
The Australian franchise dominated the second half, while keeping the visitors scoreless.
The Sunwolves, meanwhile, remain at the bottom of both the Australian Conference and the combined standings.
The scorers:
For the Rebels:
Tries: Koroibete 3, Maddocks 2, Mafi
Cons: Hodge 5
For the Sunwolves:
Try: Lemeki
Con: Parker
Pens: Parker 2
Yellow card: (Hosea Saumaki (Sunwolves, 63 – professional foul, killing the ball at the breakdown)
Teams:
Melbourne Rebels: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Reece Hodge, 9 Michael Ruru, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga'a, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Adam Coleman (captain), 4 Matt Philip, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Fereti Sa'aga.
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Pone Fa'amausili, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Lopeti Timani, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Tayler Adams, 23 Sefa Naivalu.
Sunwolves: 15 Jason Emery, 14 Lomano Lemeki, 13 Michael Little, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Hosea Saumaki, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Keisuke Uchida, 8 Edward Quirk, 7 Shunsuke Nunomaki, 6 Grant Hattingh, 5 Shinya Makabe, 4 James Moore, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Craig Millar.
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Keita Inagaki, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Sam Wykes, 20 Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, 21 Kaito Shigeno, 22 Harumichi Tatekawa, 23 Semisi Masirewa.
Referee: Federico Anselmi
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Graham Cooper
TMO: Ian Smith
