Eddie Jones, the head coach of the England national rugby union team, has come to the defense of young Wallabies playmaker Carter Gordon amidst criticism over his selection. Jones fiercely defended his decision during a press conference in Dunedin, accusing those who questioned Gordon’s selection of not knowing anything about rugby.
Jones firmly stated that he did not believe he made a mistake in selecting Gordon as the starting fly-half for the Wallabies in their previous match in Melbourne. He emphasized the fact that Gordon is still a young and developing player and needs time in the position to improve. According to Jones, anyone who questions this does not understand the intricacies of rugby.
Gordon had an impressive season for the Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific but had mixed results in the high-pressure environment of a Bledisloe Cup test match. Despite some kicking errors that crept into his performance, Jones cited All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga as an example of how a player can take time to settle into the international arena.
When asked whether he had spent additional time with Gordon in preparation for the second test match, Jones clarified that his role as a coach is to provide confidence and support to the young player. Jones acknowledged that Gordon will continue to make mistakes and emphasized the importance of learning from those mistakes. He also expressed his desire to shield Gordon from negative external influences.
In addition to defending Gordon, Jones announced a number of changes to the Wallabies’ forward pack for the upcoming match. He named halfback Tate McDermott as the captain, replacing Allan Alaalatoa, who suffered an Achilles injury in the previous game.
Despite these changes, the Wallabies will field an inexperienced starting XV, with the seventh-lowest combined caps total in the professional era. This highlights the team’s focus on developing young talent and providing them with valuable playing time.
The Wallabies’ starting lineup for the second Bledisloe Cup test in Dunedin includes Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Carter Gordon, and Tate McDermott as the captain. The forward pack consists of Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, Pone Fa’amausili, David Porecki, and Angus Bell.
The Wallabies will be looking to bounce back from their previous defeat against the All Blacks, and the inclusion of young players like Gordon reflects their commitment to building for the future. Eddie Jones’ staunch defense of Carter Gordon sends a strong message about his belief in the young fly-half’s potential, despite the initial criticism. The upcoming match in Dunedin will provide another opportunity for Gordon and the Wallabies to showcase their abilities and continue their development as a team.
