Gordon's leg fracture exposes Australia's Achilles heel

SYDNEY, Sept 8 : Confirmation that Wallabies flyhalf Carter Gordon has fractured his leg and will miss a test against the Springboks and two against the All Blacks has once again exposed Australia's long-standing issues in the playmaking role. 

The luckless Gordon, who had emerged as the first choice of new coach Les Kiss in the key position, will book in for yet another spell in the treatment room after suffering the injury late in Saturday's 28-28 draw against Argentina. 

The injuries that have so frequently blighted the 25-year-old's career mean that Kiss has to consider it a gamble that he will be fit to lead the Australian backline throughout next year's World Cup on home soil.

Kiss, having experimented in his first four tests in charge against Japan and Argentina, would have been hoping to lock in combinations for the tougher challenges ahead. 

Those hopes have been dashed by Gordon's injury and he must now ponder anew how to fill a jersey that has been worn by 13 different players in the last 10 seasons. 

Carter did not start last weekend's Mendoza test, having suffered a nasty gash on his face in the previous week's clash with the Pumas, and his replacement Ben Donaldson would be the obvious choice to face South Africa in Perth on September 27.

Donaldson was making only his sixth start at flyhalf in his 25 tests, however, and has not entirely convinced as the long-term answer to Australia's playmaking conundrum.

A solid performer in Super Rugby with the flexibility to also fill in at fullback, Donaldson has decent ball skills but question marks remain over his decision-making at test level. 

Joe Schmidt had him on the bench as backup for Tom Lynagh for the three British & Irish Lions tests last year but did not name him