Jones\u2019 bold decision to select a youthful squad for this Rugby World Cup, particularly in the key position of five-eighth, has come under fire following the Wallabies\u2019 seven-point defeat to Fiji. It has left the door open for a shock pool exit if the team fails to turn things around against Wales.<\/p>\n
Gordon, in just his seventh Test, was benched in the 50th minute after a number of mediocre moments.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old failed to catch a high ball, which led to Fiji\u2019s only try of the match, and looked overawed by the occasion as he was targeted whenever he took a carry.<\/p>\n
Last month, Jones decided against selecting Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley, both experienced playmakers at Test level, instead backing Gordon and back-up No.10 option Ben Donaldson.<\/p>\n
The Wallabies\u2019 next clash is against Wales on Sunday (Monday AEST), and Jones has several selection headaches. Australia must beat Wales to put themselves in a favourable position to qualify for a quarter-final.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Carter Gordon takes on two Fijians.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cI feel for Carter Gordon right now because he doesn\u2019t have a Quade Cooper or a Bernard Foley to go back to at the hotel and pull him aside and say, \u2018Look bro, these things happen\u2019,\u201d Williams, a two-time World Cup winner, said on the Stan Sport broadcast.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really tough seeing him get pulled like that. I\u2019m going to call it how it is. We\u2019re in a high-performance arena and sometimes you live and die by your decisions. Eddie Jones got found out, unfortunately.<\/p>\n \u201cMoving forward, what are [Australia] going to do about Carter Gordon? Personally, I would love to see Carter get another shot, just for the young man\u2019s confidence. He\u2019s been there or thereabouts the whole time for the last six or seven weeks. For him to be pulled out like that would be a tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n Jones was defiant when asked about Gordon.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ve got no regrets at all … Some of the young players are going to go through some pain.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re a television commentator, you\u2019re always right,\u201d Jones said of Williams\u2019 remarks. \u201cMaybe I need to be a television commentator, then I\u2019ll be right all the time.<\/p>\n \u201cCarter is a young [five-eighth]. He\u2019s going to have those days but he\u2019ll bounce back, he\u2019s a good young player.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve gone with a young team. I\u2019ve got no regrets at all. We\u2019re building a team for the future and we\u2019re going to go through some pain. Some of the young players are going to go through some pain. You generally have an apprenticeship. He [Gordon] has plenty of support.\u201d<\/p>\n Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi acknowledged that Gordon came off earlier than anticipated but indicated the youngster wasn\u2019t too disheartened in just his second World Cup match.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got subbed pretty early but we\u2019ve got to back what Eddie is feeling there,\u201d Kerevi said. \u201cObviously, everyone is hurting, not just Carter. I let him down on the outside there, so I\u2019ve got to pick up my [game] to help him.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia have the youngest squad of all 20 teams in France, with 25 of the 33 players featuring at their first World Cup.<\/p>\n Jones made sweeping changes to Australia\u2019s back line in the second half on Sunday by moving Donaldson into five-eighth from fullback and winger Mark Nawaqanitawase to fullback with the Wallabies chasing the game.<\/p>\n When Gordon was replaced, Australia trailed 19-8.<\/p>\n \u201cWe needed to get some momentum in the game,\u201d Jones said. \u201cI thought [Issak] Fines-Leleiwasa did that, Donaldson at 10 did that, Mark going to 15 did that and Suli [Vunivalu] scored us a try that put us back into the game. I thought they were positive changes that we made.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch all the action from <\/b>Rugby World Cup 2023<\/b> on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Every match streaming ad-free, live and in 4K UHD with replays, mini matches and highlights available on demand.<\/b><\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
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