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Eddie Jones to drop Carter Gordon for must-win World Cup showdown – report
By Finn Morton
Coach Eddie Jones has reportedly “lost faith” in young Carter Gordon, with the Wallabies set to go in a new direction ahead of their must-win showdown with Wales at the Rugby World Cup.
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With the Wallabies’ chances of progressing past the pool stage now hanging in the balance, Jones’ playmaking experiment with the 22-year-old flyhalf is set to come to an abrupt halt.
Coach Jones has stuck by Gordon during a series of underwhelming performances in the No. 10 jersey, which started with a tough night against the All Blacks at the MCG.
But last weekend’s historic loss to Fiji was a turning point. Gordon was hooked just after the half-time break, and the calls for change from fans got louder and louder.
The time for change, it seems, has come. You could almost see it in Jones’ eyes after the Fiji Test as he began to speak about Ben Donaldson’s impressive showing during the second half at No. 10.
According to Tom Decent and Michael Atkinson, Donaldson will shift to flyhalf while forgotten fullback Andrew Kellaway returns to the starting side.
“Wallabies sources with knowledge of team selection, speaking on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly, told this masthead Gordon is to be dropped from the starting XV after his poor performance in Australia’s 22-15 loss to Fiji on Sunday,” the Sydney Morning Herald report reads.
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“Jones has backed Gordon throughout the year but appears to have lost faith in the young playmaker before a match Australia cannot afford to lose if they want to make the quarter-finals.
“Donaldson will shift from fullback to wear the Wallabies’ No. 15 jersey… Gordon could be named on the Wallabies bench given the side needs a back-up playmaker.”
Typical Jones scapegoat job. If he loses, he won't have the grace to resign.
Why should he? He's made it abundantly clear that the 2027 RWC is where he wants to put a competitive team forward. Blooding youngsters now isn't going to win Australia the cup this year but certainly bodes well for the future. Australia would be foolish to let him go.
Players come & go, they reach their full potential then slowly slip behind other newer fresher talent.....so why do we treat coaches any differently. Jones had had his moment in the sun but hasn't been able to maintain the same momentum or results. As stated previously, we know what happens to players in this situation
Just hope that this doesn’t ruin Gordon’s career. Throwing him into the World Cup and throwing all of australias hopes and dreams onto his back was always going to be a long shot. He is still a good player who will be a great player if he can get away from Jones
'I never saw this coming under Jones', Said nobody.
ARFU have even less exuse than the RFU. Jones had displayed his limited selector/coaching abilities as far back as 2003. ARFU must have watched Jones churning his coaching teams in the England post and relentlessly picking players for 1-3 caps before discarding them.
Even now, Jones is trumpeting the familiar refrain, known only too well to England supporters bcs the RFU gave him so much time to prqctise his excuses: 'building for the future', which Jones knows enables him to conveniently make excuses for his poor gambles in selection as well as bullying as a coach.
If you should still be blinkered and feel sorry for Jones: never fear! He doubtless still has his coaching job in Japan tucked up his sleeve.