Gordon out to step up for Wallabies jersey
New South Wales Waratahs captain Jake Gordon declared he “had not done enough” this Super Rugby season to warrant a Wallabies jersey for the World Cup later this year.
The 29-year-old halfback has 20 caps for Australia after debuting in 2018, including four starts in 10 Tests in 2022, but does not believe his current form has earned him a place in the match day 23.
“Not yet, I’ve still got a bit to do,” Gordon said.
“I probably didn’t start the year the way I wanted to, (but) I think I’ve be playing better of late.
“It’s a pretty short season, and it’s a really important year for rugby, I think they need to pick the best players and I need to make sure I’m playing my best.”
The Wallabies kick off their 2023 campaign in Pretoria when they take on the Springboks on July 8 in their first Rugby Championship game.
That gives Gordon just over eight weeks to prove his worth to coach Eddie Jones, and Saturday’s match against the Queensland Reds provides a perfect opportunity to do just that.
Gordon will go head to head with 24-year-old Reds No.9 Tate Mcdermott, who has 21 Australian caps but was a stunning omission from Jones’ first Wallabies camp earlier this year.
“He’s always pretty dangerous, Tatey, he’s been great,” Gordon said about his counterpart’s Super Rugby form.
“He’s a really good leader for them, really dangerous around the ruck, strong skill set and I love playing Tatey, he’s a good man.
“He’s super competitive so you always get excited for those sort of games and I’m sure he’ll feel the same way.”
“These games always have feeling in them because it’s mate vs mate, we actually spend a lot of time with these guys in camp, we know them really well.
“I think bragging rights are always up for grabs but what’s important is where we are on the table – we’re pretty close so if we can get one tomorrow night and project ourselves higher up the ladder that’s probably what’s most important.”
Reds captain Tate Mcdermott would not weigh in on the individual battle between the halfbacks but acknowledged many fans would be paying close attention.
“Jakey is a good mate of mine, a lot of people will talk about that but my opponent on Saturday is New South Wales not Jake Gordon,” Mcdermott said.
“It’s going to be exciting, I love coming up against halfbacks, particularly other Wallabies halfbacks, and it’ll be good to run out their alongside Jake.”
Mcdermott said that Queensland would leave nothing on the field in the “union version of State of Origin.”