Wallabies coach Les Kiss has called in Carter Gordon at flyhalf for Saturday's Nations Championship clash with Japan in Townsville, but says he will keep investigating his options at No 10 before next year's home World Cup.
Wholesale changes to the pack
Kiss has shuffled the side in only his second Test, making wholesale changes to his pack as he seeks a comprehensive victory against the Brave Blossoms. The Wallabies won last week's clash in Osaka narrowly, 35-32, after a mixed performance from Declan Meredith, who has been dropped.
Ben Donaldson remains on the bench, while Gordon will play his third Test since returning to union. "He takes the line on, we do believe that we can open up and stretch this opposition that we're playing against, and if we can be more accurate this week, it'll be on the back of what Carter can do," Kiss said.
Commitment to depth at No 10
Despite that vote of confidence in Gordon, Kiss said he was committed to ensuring depth at the position as the World Cup comes into view. "I'm keen to see all the 10s, and that's on me," said Kiss, who took over from Joe Schmidt last month.
"I want to see all the 10s and how they can operate. I think [with] three games for Declan, I've got good information on him now, he is going to only get better for us, that's for sure, the tuition that he had under Steve Larkham [at the Brumbies] is obviously coming through."
"And in a way, I have to move that position. I want to see Carter and I want to see Donno [Donaldson] off the bench again as well, covering 15 [fullback]."
Gordon's injury-hit return
Gordon's return has been hampered by injuries, or "small niggles" as he described them, which sidelined the 25-year-old from Nambour after the two Tests he has played since his return. He recently returned from a four-week lay-off due to a calf strain.
"I spent a lot of time on the sideline in rugby league, feet up, I wasn't really walking there at one point and these niggles have probably been a result of that," Gordon said. "A lot of, like I said, small ones [injuries] but luckily I've only spent a couple weeks on the sideline each time, but [I'm] very excited for this weekend and hopefully can keep my body sweet for the rest of the year."
New combinations and old connections
Kiss has overhauled the forward pack after the exertions in the Osaka heat. Lachlan Shaw will make his first start in gold, as does flanker Charlie Cale, and centre Isaac Henry is in the XV for the first time after his debut off the bench last week.
Gordon will not have Australia's first-choice midfield pairing outside him, as Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Len Ikitau miss the game with injuries. But in outside centre Henry and Hunter Paisami at inside centre, he can call on old connections. "Funnily enough, me, Isaac, and Hunter all played 10, 12, 13 together at [Brisbane] Wests 2018-2019, so it's a combination that we're pretty familiar with," Gordon said.
Japan offered a valiant opposition last week, and in the past two Tests the combined margin between the sides is just seven. Japan coach Eddie Jones was in a playful mood as his side chase a first win against Australia. "We've been watching videos of geese," he said. "The head of the flock is like the ball-carrier, who is a king that everyone follows. We've got to be in line with the ball carrier to turn those long breaks into points."
