Carter Gordon has suffered a leg fracture that will sideline him for approximately two months, ruling the Wallabies' first-choice flyhalf out of both the Perth Test against the Springboks on September 26 and the subsequent two-Test Bledisloe Cup series against New Zealand.
Gordon went down late in Sunday's 28-28 Rugby Championship draw with Argentina in Mendoza, with post-game scans confirming the fracture. He is expected to return in time for Australia's November 8 Test against England at Twickenham.
Ben Donaldson deputised at ten against Los Pumas — his first start in the position in two years — but failed to impose himself on the contest. Tom Lynagh, returning from a lengthy injury absence of his own, is set to feature for the Reds in Super Rugby Aust on Saturday against the Western Force and looms as the frontrunner to claim the jersey. Declan Meredith, who started three Tests this year and was part of the Argentinian tour squad, and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips are also in contention.
Halfback Ryan Lonergan, who finished the Mendoza match filling in at flyhalf after Gordon's injury, acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead. "We're playing the No.1 nation in the world," said coach Les Kiss. "We need to get some things better. But the boys will be up for the fight."
The loss of Gordon compounds a difficult picture at ten for Australia. The 25-year-old has battled persistent misfortune since returning to rugby less than a year ago following a back injury that cut short his NRL stint. Argentina's aerial pressure also exposed ongoing vulnerabilities in the Wallabies' exit game, adding to the concerns Kiss must address before facing the Springboks.