Overview
- The NSW Waratahs confirmed Gordon had surgery for a torn Achilles and that he will be sidelined for a significant period, ruling him out of the Wallabies' Nations Championship tests.
- Gordon suffered the injury during the Waratahs' final Super Rugby Pacific match and was carried off the field after clutching his right leg.
- With Gordon unavailable, coach Joe Schmidt must select a new No.9 and Tate McDermott and Ryan Lonergan are the leading candidates to start at scrum-half.
- Australia opens the Nations Championship against Ireland in Sydney before matches with France in Brisbane and Italy in Perth, making the timing of the replacement selection urgent.
- A similar Achilles tear kept Kurtley Beale out for close to a year, so Gordon faces an uncertain, potentially lengthy rehab that could affect his World Cup preparations and club season.