'I just can't wait to get to France'
Carter Gordon insists he’s ready for the World Cup cauldron despite being the greenest Australian playmaker ever bound for the global showpiece.
Quade Cooper’s shock omission from Eddie Jones’ 33-man squad has left 22-year-old Gordon under huge pressure to steer the Wallabies around in France.
In previous World Cups, the Wallabies have had legends like Michael Lynagh and Stephen Larkham guiding them around the park.
Even Cooper and Bernard Foley were vastly more experienced than two-Test starting rookie Gordon.
In a huge gamble from Jones, Waratahs utility Ben Donaldson – with only two Test caps – is the only other player capable of stepping into the flyhalf role should Gordon go down.
Gordon, though, is taking the responsibility in his stride.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing rugby this year and really grateful to be in the team and the squad,” he said ahead of the Wallabies’ departure for Europe on Thursday.
“I’m just looking forward to getting out there with the team.”
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Jones plucked Gordon from Super Rugby despite his Melbourne Rebels finishing last of Australia’s five franchises this year.
Despite being an obvious talent, Gordon wasn’t sure he’d get an opportunity to debut for Australia in a World Cup year, let alone be promoted to first-choice Wallabies’ No.10 a month out from the tournament.
“I was just playing week to week and making sure I was doing my role every day and just doing everything I could for the team,” he said.
“To get a start, I’m extremely grateful and to have two starts under my belt now, I’ve obviously grown with a bit of confidence and I just can’t wait to get over to France.”
After debuting off the bench against South Africa in Pretoria, Gordon said it was “massive” to be handed his first starting role against the All Blacks in front of 80,000 fans at the MCG last month.
“Obviously I was a little bit nervous for that first start in Melbourne,” he said.
“But I’m really glad the way everything happened the way it did. Then to get that second start in Dunedin was unreal.
“I went in to that game kind of knowing what to expect having that one game under my belt.
“I really enjoyed it. I was really happy out there.”
French flyhalf Romain Ntamack on Monday learned the devastating news that he would miss his home World Cup with a knee injury.
But Gordon said he couldn’t afford to concern himself with such news, or the prospect of leaving the Wallabies short in the playmaking department if he too gets hurt.
“It’s always terrible to hear someone go down with an injury like that just before a World Cup,” he said.
“Obviously our thoughts are with him but I try not to think much about injuries or things like that.
“What can you do?”
