Rather than attempting to downplay expectations, Eddie Jones has hyped Wallabies rookie Carter Gordon as a hybrid of Rugby World Cup winners Butch James and Stephen Larkham.
Gordon, the 22-year-old Rebels star, is in the midst of a breakout season.
The Queensland product was not on the Test radar until he lit up Super Rugby Pacific in 2023 as Australia's best player.
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Two eye-catching Wallabies cameos behind Quade Cooper have followed, the second playing out of position in the centres in the loss to Argentina.
And now, with the Wallabies in a 0-2 Rugby Championship rut, Jones has released Gordon and his flowing blond mullet with a start in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup blockbuster in front of an expected 80,000-plus crowd at the MCG.
"To me, if you look back at players, past great 10s, he's got a bit of a mixture of Butch James, defensively, like he's a tough kid," Jones said after making seven changes in a bold team selection on Thursday.
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"And then he's got that little bit of a glide that Larkham had.
"He can take the ball at pace. He's got a good short passing game and he's got a good long passing game."
Gordon will partner sparky Reds No.9 Tate McDermott in a brand new playmaking combination as Jones throws caution to the wind.
"We want to play at pace, which I know New Zealand think they've got a mortgage on, but as I said, other teams can play at pace," Jones said.
"And we feel that it's a good time to play Tate and Carter together."
The 63-year-old Jones has coached against the All Blacks 14 times with a return of six wins, seven losses and a draw.
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His record with the Wallabies is 5-6, behind Rod Macqueen's remarkable 5-2 return while Bob Dwyer won just seven of his 21 Tests against the All Blacks.
Former Test stars Morgan Turinui, Tim Horan and Mils Muliaina all applauded the bold selections on Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven.
"Carter Gordon, he's confident, he's coming off a great Super Rugby season. He's been eased into Test rugby to a certain degree," Turinui said.
"Now is the opportune moment to throw him in the deep end knowing that the Wallabies are underdogs here.
"If they can pull off an amazing victory with a crew of young players and a tall, physical forward pack, then why not have a crack?"
Horan had called for Gordon to start after the ugly season opening loss to the Springboks in Pretoria.
"Eddie Jones has got to have a look at Carter Gordon, see what he can do at the start of a game," the two-time World Cup winner said.
"We know what he can do at the end of a game, but at the start of a game… the link he'll have with Tate McDermott and the spark early on. I think the Wallabies, if they're any chance, a very slim chance of beating the All Blacks, they have to start in that first 25, 30 minutes on fire. Get them out there."
Muliaina, who played 100 Tests for the All Blacks and won the 2011 World Cup, agreed there was no point taking a conservative approach against New Zealand, who have made a roaring 2-0 start to 2023.
"You've got to have no fear when you're playing the All Blacks," Muliaina said.
"And he's shown that. We talk often about the scars of guys who've been there and lost. He doesn't have that. He wants to go out there and absolutely attack the All Blacks. And that's what I think he'll bring… similar to when Quade first started to take it to the line. Now it's excitement, right?
"You've got no fear but it's exciting because you're up against a team that everyone's saying that you're going to lose against. He goes out there and he fires and it creates energy amongst his pack and then they all of a sudden think, 'well, we'll go out there and smash the All Blacks pack too'."
https://twitter.com/StanSportRugby/status/1684369501935005696?s=20
WALLABIES (15-1): Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Carter Gordon, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Jed Holloway, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Dave Porecki, Angus Bell
Reserves: Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Izaia Perese
ALL BLACKS (15-1): Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea (c), Dalton Papali'i, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Sam Whitelock, Luke Jacobson, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
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