Wallabies: Les Kiss gives update on Carter Gordon ahead of Springboks Test
Wallabies: Les Kiss gives update on Carter Gordon ahead of Springboks Test
Wallabies boss Les Kiss has said his side are “disappointed” not to have beaten Argentina at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on Saturday, as he looks ahead to the match-up with the Springboks.
Despite only drawing with the South American side at the weekend, the Wallabies walk away with the series victory, having won the first Test by six points at the Estadio 23 de Agosto a week prior.
“Securing that trophy is definitely one of the things that we came here to do, without a doubt,” Kiss told the press after the match. “So, talking to the lads, [we’re] very pleased that that part of the equation was on point.”
The series win was Kiss’ number one objective. Still, he will have been disappointed not to have taken victory in the second Test, particularly having spent the final 13 minutes of the match with a two-man advantage.
“We probably took control of patches of that game and put ourselves in a good position to win it,” he continued. “But the boys are a little bit disappointed that they didn’t go on with it for sure.
“So, yeah, mixed feelings in a way. But there is something we came here to achieve, and we got that. That’s for sure. The areas of the game, the rugby bit, is trying to get some areas of our game a little bit better and a bit more robust, and we’ve got things to work on for sure.”
Despite earning a penalty try just minutes after the Lucio Cinti and Santiago Carreras yellow cards, the Wallabies were unable to dish out further punishment over their hosts, instead being held to what would be a disappointing result for both sides.
“There were two parts to it,” Kiss said, explaining the reasoning behind the scoreless final 10. “They had a bit of field position. They really managed around four to five minutes out of it with their pistons down our end.
“We certainly got the opportunity to get away from that. We went up to the other end and possibly had made some opportunities, probably kicked the ball away, probably kept it in hand and kept the pressure on.
“You know, a pass went awry that should have stuck. Fundamental things like that, just simple things that just didn’t give us a chance to take that game away from them.”
Carter Gordon update
The return of Wallabies fly-half Carter Gordon to the squad has already resulted in some great fortune, but after coming off injured on Saturday, fans will face a nervous wait to find out if he’ll be fit to play against the Springboks in three weeks.
“He’s going to get some scans. He just had a blow in his leg lower limb by contacting the lower limb, so we’re just going to get that checked out properly with some scans hopefully over the next few hours, and hopefully we’ve got some information in the morning.”
Kiss added, “We won’t know until we get the scan, to tell you the truth. I wish I had an answer now, but I probably have one when we land on Monday, Tuesday.”
Looking ahead to their Test against the world champions, Kiss said: “We’re certainly going to be doing what we can over the next two, three weeks to prepare well for the Springboks. We know that we’re playing the number one nation in the world.
“We’re going to have to make sure we get some things better to be able to front up against the Springboks. It will be tough, but I’m pretty sure the boys will be up for the fight.”
When asked whether the Wallabies will have an advantage over their African opponents due to their extended rest, Kiss agreed, saying: “Yeah, I think so. There’s been a lot of load on the boys, travel, training, all that sort of stuff that they’ve put on over the last two or three weeks.
“To get home and refresh, catch up with their families, I think is an ideal opportunity for us to make sure we can come into that Perth camp and put something on the table that people would expect of us and they’d expect of themselves.”
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