Jake Gordon goes as far as to call it "probably the best news I've ever heard."
After limping off Forsyth Barr Stadium with a knee injury in another heavy Super Rugby defeat to the Highlanders last month, the Waratahs captain was fearing the worst.
"It's been a bit of a rollercoaster," the Wallabies halfback told Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven ahead of tonight's opening Test against France at Suncorp Stadium.
"I heard the worst news that it could possibly be an ACL, which was devastating at the time, especially after the year that we had.
"Then I got a scan on the Wednesday, walked into the Tahs and people were smiling.
"I was like 'that's a bit strange.' I walked into the doctor's room and she gave me the great news of only doing my MCL. It was probably the best news I've ever heard."
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Not far behind was Wallabies coach Dave Rennie endorsing Gordon as the team's starting halfback after Nic White, ironically, succumbed to his own MCL injury during a brutal camp on the Gold Coast.
Unusually tall for a halfback, the 27-year-old Gordon has played just three Tests but has been in career best form this season despite being stuck behind a consistently beaten pack.
"It's really exciting," Gordon said.
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"The last time I started a Test match was 2018 and I really want to push for that No.9 jersey. I've got great competition with Tate McDermott, Nic White and Lonners (Ryan Lonergan). Really excited to team up with Noah Lolesio.
"He likes to take on the line, quite dangerous around the ruck."
Gordon and Lolesio are an untested halves combination and France's second-string squad adds further mystery to the clash.
Gordon planned to alleviate pressure on Lolesio, the 21-year-old five-eighth, by stepping up with his own kicking and running game.
"Especially around our exits, look to take a lot of those kicks and also around the ruck," he said.
"I think I can challenge those forwards, the French, laterally.
"So if I can get the winger off my hip – I don't want to give too many clues away – but really challenge their 1, 2, 3 defenders and step up as a ball player there."
France are ranked fifth in the world – to Australia's seventh – and have seven debutants in their matchday squad.
"They're obviously a big forward pack with some really big, strong ball carriers and they're electric out wide," Gordon said.
"They're very dangerous off turnover ball and look for a lot of offloads.
"If we can limit the amount of possession we give them from unstructured, it'll be really good."
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