The qualities that have primed Carter Gordon for another start on home soil

Carter Gordon had played just two Tests for the Wallabies off the bench before being named to start at fly-half against the All Blacks in 2023. It’s been 1,070 days since that Bledisloe Cup clash in front of 83,994 fans at the MCG, and Gordon will again wear the No. 10 jersey.

Gordon will partner ACT Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan in a new-look halves pairing when the Wallabies take on Ireland in front of a sold-out crowd in Sydney. This will be the 25-year-old’s third international appearance on home soil, and first since returning from a stint in the NRL.

The playmaker went to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, returned for the following Super Rugby Pacific season with the Melbourne Rebels, but then put pen to a paper on a deal with rugby league side the Gold Coast Titans in June 2024.

But after securing a move back to rugby union ahead of the 2025 Spring Tour with the Wallabies, Gordon is primed for what will be just his third international on Aussie soil. The Queenslander is coming off a debut season with the Reds, having made 10 starts during the recent campaign.

“It’s been really good for Carter to have a pretty injury-free year for Reds. He got a lot of footy for us,” Reds teammate and Wallabies captain Harry Wilson told reporters at Allianz Stadium.

“He loves the defence side of being a fly-half, he’s always wanted to get in there. His chat, his communication was really good for us at Reds and since he’s come into Wallaby camp, he’s really grabbed that and he’s been leading that.

“He’s had a really good two weeks in the hot seat and we’ve really enjoyed training with him and we’re really excited to play with him.”

Gordon is one of two Reds representatives in the Wallabies backline, with Jock Campbell named for a return to the Test arena. Campbell hasn’t played for the Wallabies in more than 1,300 days but has been rewarded for a strong Super Rugby Pacific season.

The 31-year-old wore the No. 15 jersey in all 14 appearances of Les Kiss’ Reds side in 2026, with the fullback playing the full 80 in a majority of those matches, and even a mammoth 89-minute shift in a Super Point defeat to the Blues.

“I’m so happy for Jock, he’s worked so hard to get back here,” Wilson said.

“His Super Rugby performances this year were unbelievable. He’s come back this year fitter, faster and stronger than I’ve ever seen him at 31 years old and that’s a credit to him about how hard he’s worked.

“He’s really fitted into this group really well. He’s quite a loud talker out the back and he’s obviously got a fair bit of flair in attack and he’s quite good under the high ball.”

Inside centre Len Ikitau is the more experienced back named in the First XV with 50 Test caps, and winger Max Jorgensen has made 20 appearances in gold. Western Force winger Dylan Pietsch and NSW Waratahs centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii have been selected as well.