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Fresh from his breakout season with the Melbourne Rebels, Carter Gordon says he’ll be ready if Eddie Jones hands him a debut against the Springboks in the Wallabies’ first Test of the year.
After a couple of false starts, the 22-year-old was not just the breakthrough player of the year, he was arguably Australia’s best in this year’s Super Rugby season.
While victories were hard to come by for the Rebels, Gordon showed off his burgeoning skill set and appetite in defence. Indeed, such was the ferocious way he threw himself into contact that Jones compared him to the 2007 World Cup-winning Springboks playmaker Butch James.
If there’s one person who knows what James was like as a player, it is Jones. The veteran coach was Jake White’s assistant when the Springboks won the World Cup in France.
After impressing at the Wallabies’ training camp, his selection as one of two specialist playmakers along with Quade Cooper for The Rugby Championship came as no surprise.
Carter Gordon says he will be ready to take on the Springboks if chosen. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Whether or not he debuts remains to be seen.
Few sides carry specialist playmakers on the bench, particularly in the modern game with Head Injury Assessments so regular.
But Jones will look closely as to whether he picks Gordon or perhaps the more versatile Reece Hodge or Ben Donaldson.
Gordon, however, says he’s ready and has been helped the rise in intensity at training, including from teammate Nic White.
“Well firstly, the training levels have been really high,” Gordon told reporters on Thursday.
“The quality of training has been awesome, and it’s just been getting better every week. I probably haven’t experienced anything like it and it’s awesome to be a part of just boys testing their skills and executing on demand.
“If I was to make my debut against the Boks, obviously I’d be extremely excited. Can’t wait.
“I’ve been training with Whitey the last few days and I’ve really enjoyed it. He’s actually getting into me a little bit on the field, which I love. It’s just more opportunity for me to learn, and he’s been on me about that, so I’ve really enjoyed playing 9-10 with him.”
Carter Gordon and Quade Cooper during a Wallabies training session at Sanctuary Cove on June 29, 2023 in Gold Coast. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
White said Gordon deserved his place in the side and it was important the squad quickly comes together with time of the essence.
“I guess for us guys with a little bit more experience letting guys like Carter know that he’s in here for a reason,” White said. “He’s had a hell of a season.
“The way he plays is what we need and he needs to bring it, and I keep telling Carter whatever I can do to help him, and the same with the other nines and 10s with Quade in here, he’s helping Carter and I’m helping the 9s, is that we need everyone to be at their best.
“We all see things a little bit differently around the game and the quicker we can get onto one page, the better and I think we’ve been really working well as a collective.”
While the Wallabies have had precious little time together since Jones sensationally took over from Dave Rennie in January, White said they were benefitting from the experienced coach’s clear plan and direction.
“Mate, he’s pretty clear in the way he wants to play the game. He’s very clear,” White said.
“Again, I’m not going to give you the finer details of that. But, look, no, it’s very clear in the philosophy of how he wants to play the game, the details of how exactly that looks in terms of plays and detail we’re getting through that.”
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones talks with Nic White at training. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
An emphasis of playing territory and kicking to win the ball back, which is a significant move away from Michael Cheika’s game plan in 2019, looks apparent.
Indeed, ever since arriving back on Australian shores, Jones has stressed that kicking is – and always has been – essential.
“We only want to kick to get the ball back,” Jones said ahead of the Wallabies’ squad announcement.
“If we kick well, we get the ball back and then we’re happy to kick.
“We’ve got to kick well.
“The modern game, if you look at any modern game, there is a lot of kicking in there.
“If you look at old games, there was a lot of kicking, you know, so there’s this fascination that rugby is a game where you don’t, all you do is pass and run.
“When I played the game, some of the best kickers of the ball were the best runners of the ball and some of the best runners of the balls were the best passers of the ball.
“And it’s interesting, you know, one of the messages I heard ‘Joey’ [Andrew Johns] say to the boys is the best running players are the best passing players, and it follows then that the best running and best passing players, are the best kicking players.
“One of the best kickers of the ball I saw was Mark Ella who could kick the ball into space, any number of times, he could probably still come down and do it.”
It was less than two years ago that White nominated Jones as the figure in world rugby that he would most like to have dinner with.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The 33-year-old said he would “definitely still stick to that” dinner date, but admitted to some “nerves” before being coached by him.
“He’s so experienced, and we’re all learning a hell of a lot from him,” White said.
“But something he keeps saying is that he can’t do it. He can only pass on his knowledge and his experiences but at the end of the day, the guys that will go out there and really make the difference in Test matches will be the blocks to go out there and play.
“He’s very good. I wouldn’t change one thing but he’s a true character and a guy we’re all learning a lot from, but at the end of the day, it’s going to come down to the blokes out on the field that are going to make the difference.
“I’m not going to lie, you get a bit nervous, and the cattle prod does come out at times. But he cares a lot. He is so unbelievably motivated, hey. Like every day he’s coming in and everything is about that winning mindset and getting better and it’s infectious.”
The Springboks are set to be without a number of World Cup winners for their clash against the Wallabies, including captain Siya Kolisi.(Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
White said the absence of the Springboks’ big three – captain Siya Kolisi, lock Eben Etzebeth and playmaker Handre Pollard – would hurt given their “world-class” status, but added whoever the 2019 World Cup winners put out on the field would do a job.
“It’s a hell of a challenge, right?” he said.
“To go over there and do what hasn’t been done. We’ve been working hard. We understand that there’s a huge challenge over there for us, a place that will be quite hostile. I think it’s sold out.
“It’s going to be a place that will be fun to play and they will lift, but they’re the games you want to play and want to be a part of.
“It’s pretty special to win in a place where you’re not expected to win and where you haven’t won before, so there’s a hell of an opportunity there.”
Of critical importance will be improving their discipline.
The Wallabies were one of the most penalised sides in 2022 with yellow cards a constant feature.
White said Jones had brought a referee into every training session to help ensure they keep on the right side of the whistle in this year’s World Cup year.
The Wallabies depart Australia on Friday.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.