Wallabies set to back veteran halfback for crunch Fiji World Cup clash, gun fullback misses selection again

SAINT ETIENNE – Nic White is firming to start against Fiji on Sunday (Monday, 1:45am AEST) in the Wallabies’ crunch World Cup pool match, as intrigue – and likely mind games – surrounds the availability of Taniela Tupou.

While Andrew Kellaway looks set to once again miss selection, with The Roar understanding the fullback won’t be one of Eddie Jones’ three backs on his bench.

Wallabies management insists Tupou remains a chance to take on Fiji despite the prized prop suffering a “minor injury” on Tuesday at training.

“Taniela is a minor injury but we are going to test him tomorrow (Friday) and for the game on Sunday,” French-born assistant coach Pierre-Henry Broncan told reporters on Thursday.

“I hope [he’s] already [fit] for the game against Fiji.”

Taniela Tupou is unlikely to feature against Fiji after suffering a hamstring injury during an earlier training session. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Yet, The Roar understands Tupou will miss the Test and is likely to miss the rest of the pool stage of the World Cup, including their clash against Wales on Sunday, September 24 local time.

Should, indeed, Tupou be ruled out it’s likely that Zane Nonggorr will start at tight-head prop, with veteran front-row forward James Slipper in the frame to return via the bench.

Pone Fa’amausili trained on Thursday, but the Rebels giant is more likely to return against Wales.

“Slipper and Pone are back today and they trained,” Broncan said. “No worries.”

With the exception of the injured Tate McDermott (concussion) and likely Tupou, Jones is unlikely to make any other changes in the Wallabies’ starting side.

James Slipper is in the frame to return for the Wallabies after getting through training at Stade Roger Baudras on September 14, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Once again, Carter Gordon is poised to wear the No.10 jersey with Ben Donaldson once again to play fullback ahead of Andrew Kellaway following his 25-point display against Georgia which earned him player of the match honours.

Despite Donaldson’s day out in Paris, former Wallabies fullback Mat Rogers told Stan Sport he would have selected Kellaway ahead of the incumbent for his all-round ability against a physical Fijian side.

“I don’t think they have to keep [Donaldson],” Rogers said on Stan Sport.

“I think what you lose in goal-kicking you make up for in playing ability [by picking Kellaway]. I’m not taking anything away from Ben Donaldson’s performance but this is going to be an incredibly physical match. I think Andrew Kellaway plays the match a little more physical than Donaldson.

“I noticed a couple of things that I wasn’t rapt with in terms of Ben’s performance defensively and that’s a concern given who we’re coming up against.”

After playing 40 minutes against Georgia, Samu Kerevi is expected to play closer to 60 minutes. It partly explains why Lalakai Foketi is expected to keep his spot on the bench.

While Broncan is the Wallabies’ maul coach, the ex-Castres coach is a former halfback and he said it was vital they keep the tempo high against the Flying Fijians.

“Fiji today is a strong team,” he said.

“I’m not sure we need to control the tempo against Fiji. We need to play with tempo for sure, but we need to play fast and play with a lot of detail at the breakdown because they can play with a lot of jackal in the team. 

“The team of Fiji, they changed in the last 10 years. Today, we are going to play against a strong forward pack, the best prayers are in France.

“But Fiji Drua in Super Rugby played very well this year.

“We need to play a very good game to beat Fiji and it’ll be very tough, but we’ve prepared the team very well this week.”

Without McDermott, Broncan said White’s experience was clearly important but added Fines-Leleiwasa has caught his attention.

“Nic has more experience, he’s an experienced player,” he said.

“He knows very well France because he was a player for Montpellier and he can control the game perhaps more than Fines.

“But Fines is a Fijian player. He’s an athletic player, very fast, he can carry very well and he’s a strong boy.

“As a halfback, I prefer to play against Nic, I think, because he varies the fight. Fines can be very tough.”

Nic White is likely to start against Fiji after Tate McDermott’s concussion suffered against Georgia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Softly spoken, Gordon said he had no issues with Donaldson, who he played with at junior level, taking over the goal-kicking duties after a three-way conversion that included Jones.

“It was a bit of a conversation with all of us. Ben was kicking really well during the week and he was happy to do it on the weekend. That was it really,” Gordon said. 

“It’s the same role regardless on the field, it’s just whoever kicks is different. Whoever kick it doesn’t really matter.

“It’s always good having another kicking option in the back line. That’s always going to relieve pressure pretty much regardless of what team you’re in.”

Gordon said that Jones, who controversially left Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley out of the squad, hadn’t shied away from being strong with him but believed his messaging had helped his development.

“I’d say it’s been a little bit of both. Kind of leaving me to find it and then coming to me when he sees things. But yeah, I feel like he’s managed me well,” he said.

“He’s obviously had a few tough conversations. He’s come in and [said], ‘Mate, you need to be here, you need to be doing this’. I’ll bloody take that with both hands every time because it’s such good feedback from him.

“Other times he’s kind of just let me go out there and do my thing and kind of find it for myself. I think he’s been really good in that area.”

Eddie Jones talks with Carter Gordon during training at Stade Roger Baudras in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Jones hasn’t shied away from backing youth in recent years, turning to Jack Van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith in recent years for England before sensationally going all in on Gordon.

Asked what were the main messages from Jones, Gordon said he had been encouraged to get his hands more on the ball.

“He just wants me to get my hands on the ball a little bit more at the moment. So, when there’s turnover and things like that, he just wants me to get my hands on the ball, get in the play, or be directing play. That’s the message for me at the moment,” he said.

Gordon’s tenaciousness and willingness to stay in the fight impressed Jones during the Melbourne Rebels’ 38-28 loss to the Fiji Drua in April.

The 22-year-old said his experience of playing the Drua, who have 18 players in the Flying Fijians’ squad, had taught him that their World Cup opponents will be a threat for the entire match.

“They’ve got that Fijian flair, they’ve got world-class players across the board and they like to throw the ball around anywhere on the field,” he said.

“We know they’ve got those threats, whether it be from their goal line all the way to our goal line, so we’re going to have to be really alert and eyes up across the board for the whole game.”

The Wallabies will name their official team at 5:30pm AEST on Friday.