Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones is set to name a youthful matchday squad to face the All Blacks in Bledisloe I, with Carter Gordon primed to start at fly-half.
Jones will reveal his team on Thursday ahead of the clash with New Zealand, and the side is rumoured to feature several young stars and a new captain.
With the Wallabies looking to get their hands on the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002, Jones is set to make drastic changes to his matchday squad, starting at fly-half.
Carter Gordon starts ahead of Quade Cooper
The Roar report that Melbourne Rebels star Gordon will replace Quade Cooper in the starting line-up.
The 22-year-old earned his first start for the Wallabies in the crunch clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after standout performances against South Africa and Argentina in his first two Test matches.
He scored a superb long-range try in the 43-12 defeat to the Springboks before playing 63 minutes at inside centre, a position largely unfamiliar to him, in just his second Test as Australia fell to a 34-31 loss to Argentina.
Gordon’s elevation to the starting line-up is just one of many changes Jones is believed to be making, with scrum-half Nic White also set to lose his place in the run-on team to Reds star Tate McDermott.
McDermott is set to become the newest Wallabies captain as the 24-year-old takes the armband off of James Slipper, with Michael Hooper set to miss the match.
The report adds that Wallabies co-captain Hooper will not be rushed back from his calf injury, meaning that he may have already played his final Test match in Australia.
Hooper, 31, has not confirmed that he will retire at the end of the season, but it is believed that he will not play Test rugby after the World Cup.
With Hooper out, Slipper is next in line to lead the side against the Wallabies, but Angus Bell’s performance against Argentina has earned him a start this week ahead of the veteran prop.
Tom Hooper, who debuted against South Africa in round one, is back from injury and could return to the starting line-up with The Roar noting further changes in the backline.
Centres and fullback
Len Ikitau’s injury has put his Rugby World Cup in doubt; Jordan Petaia is back to full fitness and could slot in at outside centre with Samu Kerevi at number 12.
Meanwhile, Andrew Kellaway is set to start at full-back after Tom Wright was released from the squad after donning the number 15 jumper in the first two Tests of the year.
As mentioned above, Australia last won the Bledisloe Cup in 2002, during Jones’ first stint in charge of the side.
If they are to end that losing streak and finally get their hands on the trophy, they will have to beat the All Blacks in back-to-back Test matches or claim one win and a draw.
The first Test is hosted by Australia in Melbourne on Saturday, with New Zealand hosting Bledisloe II at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on August 5.
READ MORE: Wallabies legend questions Eddie Jones’ radical game plan changes
The article Young gun fly-half to start in youthful Wallabies team to tackle All Blacks – report appeared first on Planetrugby.com.
