The Sydney Morning Herald

Johnathan Drennan

The Wallabies are set to be without Carter Gordon for the upcoming Tests against South Africa and New Zealand after the Reds playmaker suffered a leg injury in Saturday’s draw against Argentina in Mendoza.

According to informed sources speaking on condition of anonymity, it is feared Gordon has broken a bone in his right leg. Rugby Australia are yet to confirm the nature of injury, with the Wallabies due to arrive back in Australia on Monday evening.

The five-eighth has had a horror run of injuries since returning to rugby last October after a season in the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans. Gordon was previously hospitalised with a spinal fluid leak while at the Titans and recently battled calf injuries before returning to play four Tests this season.

The Wallabies take on South Africa on September 27 in Perth, with Brumbies playmaker Declan Meredith the likely cover for Gordon. Tom Lynagh is set to start for the Reds against the Force in Super AUS this Saturday in Ballymore.

Force recruit James O’Connor is unlikely to play in that match, but teammate Harry McLaughlin-Phillips could be in contention to make his Wallabies debut against South Africa after being called into the squad ahead of the Italy Test in July.

Gordon received a scan in Mendoza after the drawn Test and the initial suspicion was that the playmaker had sustained a fracture to his lower leg after a glancing blow in contact after 68 minutes.

Halfback Ryan Lonergan, who finished the game as a makeshift five-eighth due to Gordon’s injury, spoke after the game about a golden opportunity lost for the Wallabies to win back-to-back Tests in Argentina after the Pumas were reduced to 13 men in the late stages.

“I think the initial reaction from everyone was a little bit of disappointment but also kind of recognising that it’s probably a successful tour over here,” Lonergan said.

“I think the disappointment probably comes from us knowing that we weren’t at our best today and there are definitely areas that we can tidy up and if we’d done that then we probably would have got the result...

“I’m sure having three 10s throughout the game is not ideal and especially with the last one being a halfback, but I think we still had our chances there.”

The Wallabies will face a South African team brimming with confidence after defeating New Zealand by five points in Soweto on Saturday.

Rob Valetini was outstanding in a much-improved Wallabies defensive effort against Argentina, with the team making 220 tackles compared to the Pumas’ 110 in Mendoza.

The Brumbies breakaway carried the ball 23 metres and made 19 tackles against the Pumas and believes the Wallabies forward pack have the capacity to take on the Springboks up front in Perth.

“I guess we’re trying to build something here within the group and I guess we’re just really focused on building the team connection,” Valetini said.

“I think we’re not looking too far ahead; we’re just really happy with the series win here and I think we’re just really keen to get back home to our families.”

Wallabies playmaker set to miss Springboks, All Blacks Tests after fresh injury blow