Koroibete debut ends in defeat
The Wallaby XV struggled to adapt to a heavy pitch in Bordeaux, with Camille Gerondeau's fine late try sealing a win for the Barbarians.
Marika Koroibete set up a try just five minutes into his professional rugby union debut, but Australia XV still slumped to a 19-11 defeat to the French Barbarians in Bordeaux.
The former Melbourne Storm rugby league star provided a superb offload that enabled Ben Mowen to slide over in the corner, before a Nick Frisby penalty took the visitor out to an 8-0 lead.
The Wallabies selection failed to build upon that strong start, however, and instead was dragged into a dour and often ill-tempered contest played out in front of a raucous, 30,000-strong crowd at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.
Australia was to spend much of the rest of a largely forgettable first half on the back foot as the Barbarians piled on the pressure, especially when Nathan Charles was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on scrum-half Yann Lesgourgues.
The home side eventually worked its way into the lead just after the hour-mark courtesy of penalties from Romain Lonca and Jean Baptiste Poux.
Kyle Godwin responded in kind to cut the deficit to a single point five minutes from time, but moments later the Barbarians sealed a deserved victory with the move of the night.
Loic Jacquet's superb footwork created the opening and after some quick handling in midfield, back-rower Camille Gerondeau went in under the posts.
