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Eddie Jones’ assessment of ‘young 10’ Carter Gordon after Fiji defeat
By Finn Morton
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones picked “a young team” for the Rugby World Cup, and there may be no player who has borne the responsibility of the side’s inexperience than Carter Gordon.
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Gordon, 22, debuted in Wallaby gold during The Rugby Championship and went on to start both Bledisloe Cup Tests against the All Blacks. But the biggest surprise was yet to come.
Coach Jones decided to omit veteran Quade Cooper from the Wallabies’ World Cup squad, and instead picked young Gordon as the only Australian listed as a flyhalf in the 33-man group.
But the playmaker has struggled at Test level, and that includes Australia’s two World Cup matches so far. Gordon was replaced about 10 minutes into the second half of Sunday night’s loss to Fiji.
Gordon conceded a few turnovers within the first 30 minutes of the clash, and also failed to complete a tackle out of two attempts. The first half an hour summed up Gordon’s tough night in Saint-Etienne.
But coach Jones has backed the flyhalf to bounce back, just as he did after Gordon’s tough starting debut at the world-famous MCG in July.
“We needed to get some moment in the game. I thought (Issak Fines-Leleiwasa) Fines did that, (Ben) Donaldson at 10 did that, Mark (Nawaqanitawase) going to 15 did that, and Suli (Vunivalu) scored us a try that put us back into the game,” Jones told reporters on Sunday.
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“I thought they were positive changes that we made.
“Carter is a young 10, he’s going to have those days mate. I think I’ve said this before, he’s going to have those days but he’ll bounce back, he’s a good young player.
“We’ve gone with a young team. I’ve got no regrets at all,” Jones added. “We’ve building a team for the future and we’re going to go through some pain, and some of the younger players are going go through some pain.
“That’s generally how you have an apprenticeship. (Carter) He’s got plenty of support.’
The Wallabies showed signs of improvement during the final quarter of the Test, but in truth, the match was already all but lost.
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Fiji had raced out to a commanding 22-8 lead with about 15 minutes to play, and time waits for no man. The clock beat the Wallabies as the Flying Fijians held firm in defence for a historic win.
That victory – which was Fiji’s first win over Australia since 1954 – saw Jones’ Wallabies fall to an undesirable record of one win from seven Tests this year.
The result leaves the men in gold on the brink of what would be the Wallabies’ worst-ever record at a World Cup. If Australia fails to beat Wales in Lyon next weekend, they won’t make the quarter-finals.
“I’ve made the decision to go for a young team and if that’s the wrong decision then I’ll be held accountable for that.
“I think Australian rugby needs to move on to a younger team and I’m prepared to experience some pain to through it; to leave Australia with a team that’s capable of doing really well at a World Cup.
“That’s not to say that we can’t do that. We’ve had a bit of a setback today but that’s all part of being in a World Cup.
“I do remember South Africa lost a game and won the World Cup so funnier things have happened.”
I cannot understand how Jones England team was full of players in the twilight of their careers, but Australia suddenly needs a young team
Just another in the long list of good players Jones has sacrificed to his ego. See also England.
This is karma at its finest. Quick to jump ship as the stormers coach to coach England, then happy to take Rennie’s job off him in controversial fashion, after he got fired at England. We love Eddie for 2007 but he has to look at his own ethics. You don’t say yes to a job no matter the situation
He must just be careful he doesn't shatter the youngster's confidence which can be irreparable. The game against Fiji reminds me that in '03 a 20 year old Derick Hougard who was the Darling of Loftus was first choice fly half and in the game against the All Blacks he got monstered by Jerry Collins lost composure completely, largely contributed to South Africa's big loss and took years to recovered which he only did in 2007 to take the Bulls to a rugby championship win. But he was never the Springboks first choice fly half again.
Dont think the world cup is quite the time to serve your apprenticeship !
Eddie Eddie Eddie
Really don't understand how you coached the Aussies but seems you messed it all up
Veterans left behind in Aus while you tooks kids to play for World Cup.
This isn't training session, seriously need to wake the F@#& up
Eddie knew that if he only took Carter Gordon as the 10 with no backup he would eventually struggle with pressure and he would then be able to bring his Randwick Tah pet Ben Donaldson in at 10.
No one is surprised, as sad as the Tahs willing to sabotage the Wallabies to get their pets in, is.