It was the bombshell omission that had everyone in Australian rugby double and triple look at Eddie Jones’ Wallabies World Cup squad: Quade Cooper had been left out.
But the man who shapes to wear the No.10 jersey at this year’s World Cup says Cooper will be there for him even though he won’t be with him in France.
“We’re still super close, still talk a little bit,” rising 22-year-old playmaker Carter Gordon told a small group of reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
“He sent me a really nice message when the squad came out and he just said he’s here for me and he’s going to continue to help me everywhere I can. So yeah, that just shows the person he is and how good of a bloke he is.”
While Gordon and Cooper roomed together back in June, the duo have known each other for years.
It was back in 2018 Gordon was invited to a training session alongside Cooper and it wasn’t long before the 2011 Super Rugby winner told Rebels general manager Nick Stiles to do everything he could to lure him to Melbourne. Suffice to say, Stiles got his man soon enough.
Carter Gordon says Quade Cooper will continue to help him where possible despite being left out of Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Cooper, meanwhile, has backed Gordon every step of the way, saying in July that the rookie’s performance on debut showed “what he’s all about” and that “he’s got the makings to be a great player”.
Cooper added: “I want to be there to continue to support him and challenge him, in the same way that we’re challenging each other.”
Extraordinarily, the apprentice has now been preferred to the master after Cooper’s sensational and dramatic axing last week.
It left everyone, including his teammates, shocked.
“Obviously, I’ve learned a lot from Quade and he’s been massive for my growth the last few months,” Gordon said.
But the training wheels are well and truly off now, with Gordon, who was watching Cooper play in the 2011 World Cup from a hotel room in Darwin ahead of an athletics meet, the only specialist fly-half in the squad.
Waratahs utility back Ben Donaldson, who spent the bulk of the Super Rugby season at fly-half despite bookending the campaign in the No.15 jersey, also provides cover in the playmaking role.
But despite being the favourite to wear the No.10 jersey, Gordon said he wasn’t taking anything for granted.
“Being the only 10 on the sheet doesn’t really mean too much to me,” he said, fresh from returning from the Northern Territory after a four-day camp, including a night under the stars in Arnhem Land.
“It’s more so about getting better and still earning my spot because if you go out there and play some bad rugby, you’re going to be giving it up, so it’s just making sure I’m growing every day and doing everything I can to keep that jersey.”
One thing is for sure, Gordon has a strong backer in Jones.
Carter Gordon started ahead of Quade Cooper in the 2023 Bledisloe Cup series. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
After holding him back for the opening two Tests of The Rugby Championship, the Wallabies coach came out staunchly in defence of his selection of Gordon for the Bledisloe Cup fixtures.
“Well, firstly, I don’t think I got it wrong, mate,” Jones said, after a New Zealand journalist questioned Gordon’s selection following the heavy Bledisloe I defeat at the MCG in front of 84,000.
“In fact, I’m going to get it right and the player will get it right, and to say that a young 10 in his first game, you’ve got it wrong in selecting him, is just a load of rubbish mate.
“So, anyone who asks that question, doesn’t know anything about rugby.
“Well if you know anything about rugby, you know that 10s need time in the seat.
“If you don’t know anything about rugby, don’t talk to me.”
Gordon said it was nice to have Jones go into bat for him.
“He’s been helping me massively on the field and it’s awesome to see him backing me off the field too, which I’m super grateful for,” he said.
“He’s doing everything he can to make me a better player, which is absolutely unreal for my performance and my growth.”
Nor is Gordon shying away from the pressure of taking the shots at goal – a crucial aspect that often defines World Cups.
Carter Gordon in action against the All Blacks in Dunedin. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
“I love goalkicking,” he said. “It’s just a bonus you get to do on top of playing rugby.
“I’ve always done it growing up as a kid and obviously being behind Hodgey [Reece Hodge] in the goalkicking takes at the Rebels, but still practice heaps and obviously can’t wait to be the kicker out there.”
Leg and hip issues meant that Gordon couldn’t practice his kicking for the bulk of this year’s Super Rugby season, but it comes as no surprise that the blonde-haired playmaker enjoys the big moment.
A gun golfer, Gordon plays off almost scratch (0.6). It’s another sign that he can handle the pressure and hit his target.
As for his rapid rise from fringe Super Rugby player to World Cup starter in the space of a year, Gordon can barely believe it.
“It’s always been a goal,” he said.
“But last year I would have said ‘you’re kidding yourself.’
“I had a goal for this year to try and crack one of the Wallabies training squads and got to do that in the first April camp. To be able to go along on the whole journey so far has been unreal and a bit mind-blowing to me if I thought about it 12 months ago.
“I can’t wait to get to France and keep the year going.”
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Yeah, they always will, but not nearly as confident I think. Ah, yes, whenever I think of Fiji I think of that game at the 2019 WC. They flung poor Reece Hodge around like a ragdoll! :laughing:
Cec
Roar Rookie
Q I think everyone will still want to run it at the 10 channel. Think of the impact on your play makers having to defend too much. CG is robust compared to other 10s but you’d still take him on instead of BobbyV or THooper. I hope CG survives Fiji. They refer to Aussies as “tall pork”. :laughing:
jameswm
Roar Guru
True, but they have to be at least competent.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Not a biggie James. A tackling 5/8 is nice, but it’s not what a 5/8 is for.
jameswm
Roar Guru
We’ll have to agree to disagree on that one
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I can't see any good reason for dropping Quade. Really doesn't matter to me which one of them starts. And it makes no sense that Foley is at Aus A whilst Quade is gone. Clearly something went wrong behind the scenes.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Yes. That is EXACTLY what I'm saying :laughing:
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Cooper defended in the line. Made more of his tackles there than Gordon.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Pretty similar minutes across 4 games. Both played the same teams. Not in one of the 4 games did Gordon have a higher tackle completion rate. But what your saying is we should pick our 10 that makes some dominant but misses more?
Qualify
Roar Rookie
It probably is the only thing he has over QC. But it's a big advantage. Means we don't have to shuffle the back line around all the time to hide players on defence (which is also a nightmare on turnover ball because then the weak defending flyhalf is usually in the midfield.) Also, if your 10's defense is good, the opposition will have to think twice before running at his channel. Something they love doing against guys like Foley or NL (Kiwi's especially love running hard at Quade).
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Not arguing Qualify about who – Q vs Carter as ‘best’ 10. I rate Carter highly. But the key commodity I would offer in a World Cup year is ‘playmaking team’. They are great foils for each other. One to run on, one to wait on bench or in the 33. But Eddie reckons Quade was too ambitious, and Eddie is an honourable man.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
No, I agree. I think it was a misstep by Eddie. Especially seeing as Donaldson will have to be on the bench. The only way it makes sense to me is if Eddie and Quade had some sort of falling out?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
There were a few Cec. But we are not comparing 6’s. Tackling stats in a 10 are fine, but that is not what 10’s are for.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Larkham was a tough player and defender.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
There are tackles, and there are Quade tackles. If his numbers are up his ‘effectiveness’ is down. Cognitive dissonance dictates these wack a mole thoughts. It’s science.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Gordon didn’t steal anything Tooly. He’s earned his jersey. But, in the absence of anyone of Quade’s verve, let alone experience, elsewhere amongst the joeys, I have no idea what Eddie is thinking.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ I would have liked to see what Quade 2.0 might do at a RWC.” Yes piru. I’ve been waiting since 2011, when he had his last shot.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Do you remember Nick kicking one from near halfway to beat ABs, on top of his snipping try? And Chieka still left him out for Phipps. :shocked:
Cec
Roar Rookie
Why such a focus on tackling, is that the only skill CG has over QC? Tackling would be a bonus skill not a core skill like being able to kick for touch or convert from in front of the sticks. Converting tries and taking penalties has a bigger impact on the teams score line. Happy to look at any QC tackling howlers over 21-23 as I can’t recall an obvious misses
Cec
Roar Rookie
Q, It depends on what one thinks are the core skills at 10. For me it’s kicking and play making which QC has in spades and proven under test pressure the last few years. I’d prefer to ease CG in with starts vs tier 2. That’s always been the preferred method and can’t see why that needs to change in CG’s case.