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Wallabies confirm new-look halves duo to take down All Blacks
At just 22 years of age, rising star Carter Gordon has been given the Wallabies’ playmaking reins ahead of this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Melbourne.
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Gordon has shown glimpses of potential in two Test matches off the bench this year, and has been rewarded for his promising form bursts with his first start at Test level.
The flyhalf will start in the halves alongside another Queenslander, Tate McDermott. McDermott, who was omitted from a Wallabies squad earlier this year, replaces Nic White in the No. 9 jersey.
As well as those two changes, coach Eddie Jones has swung the axe through his team. Jones has made seven changes to the Wallabies starting side, including a change at captain.
With Angus Bell starting ahead of James Slipper, and Michael Hooper missing the Test due to a persistent calf injury, Allan Alaalatoa has been named acting captain.
Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Jordan Petaia and Andrew Kellaway have also selected in the run-on side to take on New Zealand at ‘the G.’
“We are a team that wants to make Australia proud and Saturday night is a great opportunity to light up the MCG,” Jones said in a statement.
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“A young starting 15 and vibrant, experienced finishers will give us the 80 minutes we want.
“Wallaby Rugby versus New Zealand Rugby, it’s the most important game of the year.”
Young gun Angus Bell has been trust into the starting lineup ahead of Wallabies co-captain James Slipper, and will pack down alongside David Porecki and Allan Alaalatoa.
Brumby Nick Frost joins enforcer Will Skelton in the second row, while Jed Holloway, Tom hooper and Rob Valetini round out the forwards.
The new-look halves duo of McDermott and Gordon is sure to excite Australian rugby fans, as the Wallabies look to turn their fortunes around after an 0-2 start under Jones.
Samu Kerevi and Jordan Petaia, the same pair who lined up in the Wallabies’ midfield in their quarter-final loss at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, will start at No. 12 and 13 respectively.
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World-class winger Marika Koroibete holds his place on the left wing, as does Mark Nawaqanitawase on the right, while Andrew Kellaway will start out the back.
Wallabies team to take on All Blacks
- Angus Bell
- David Porecki
- Allan Alaalatoa
- Nick Frost
- Will Skelton
- Jed Holloway
- Tom Hooper
- Rob Valetini
- Tate McDermott
- Carter Gordon
- Marika Koroibete
- Samu Kerevi
- Jordan Petaia
- Mark Nawaqanitawase
- Andrew Kellaway
Replacements:
- Jordan Uelese
- James Slipper
- Taniela Tupou
- Richie Arnold
- Rob Leota
- Nic White
- Quade Cooper
- Izaia Perese
Comments on RugbyPass
The Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
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