Jake Gordon answers Wallabies SOS

Editor

Waratahs scrumhalf Jake Gordon has joined the Wallabies squad as a replacement for Will Genia who is sidelined for six weeks with a broken arm.

Gordon returned to Sydney on Monday, after playing with the Waratahs, and has linked up with Australia’s national squad to replace Genia, who came off in the 27th minute in Saturday’s 26-21 loss to Ireland in Melbourne.

Genia went in for surgery on Sunday and it was confirmed in a statement today that his Super Rugby season is all but over, with the 30-year-old to miss six weeks.

Nick Phipps is most likely to replace Genia in the starting line-up, with Brumbies scrum-half Joe Powell the other nine in the squad.

Asked on Monday morning, before the confirmation of Gordon’s inclusion, Wallabies attack coach Stephen Larkham said they had faith in the other nines to step up.

“He’s an integral part of the team, there’s no doubt about that, he’s part of our strategy group and he’s had a very good combination there with the forward pack and the backline,” he told Rugby Australia’s official website.

“So he’s definitely a big loss but in saying that, we’ve got really good experience in Nick Phipps, Joe Powell’s been around the team now for the last 12 months and we’ll have to bring someone else into the team now.”

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