SAINT-ETIENNE: All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens has warned of the risks of fielding an untested playmaking combination as Wallabies coach Eddie Jones prepares to name Ben Donaldson at No.10 for Monday's (AEST) crucial Rugby World Cup clash with Wales in Lyon.
Jones is expected to hand Donaldson the starting keys ahead of Carter Gordon, who had an unhappy night in the historic 22-15 loss to Fiji in Saint-Etienne.
That will allow Andrew Kellaway to start at fullback as Australia attempts to avoid a pool stage exit for the first time in the country's proud World Cup history.
Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the home of rugby, Stan Sport. Every match ad free, live and on demand in 4K UHD
"I'm a big Kellaway fan as well but I think the alternative of having Donaldson at 10 and Kellaway at 15 is too untried at this stage of the tournament, for this kind of a game," Mehrtens, who scored 967 points in 70 Tests, told Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven.
"You need the goalkicking with Donaldson. And I think also you decide that you're probably not going to counterattack much against the Welsh. You probably want to play the game of territory.
"They've got really good counterattacking players themselves."
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Jones will confirm his team at 5.30pm AEST on Friday.
Gordon was hooked after 50 minutes at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard and the Wallabies did perform better when Donaldson took over at five-eighth.
But former Wallaby Morgan Turinui warned that it could be dangerous to read too much into that second half sample size.
NEW PODCAST! Fiji beat Australia for the first time in 69 years. Michael Atkinson, Sam Worthington and Tom Decent discuss what's next for the Wallabies
https://omny.fm/shows/rugby-world-cup-inside-line/a-dark-day-for-australian-rugby/embed?in_playlist=podcast&style=CoverStarting Donaldson at 10 is an extraordinary move given his mediocre Super Rugby season with the Waratahs and his subsequent move to the Force.
But Jones has backed himself into a corner by leaving experienced pivots Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley and James O'Connor at home.
"The danger there in picking Ben Donaldson, and even an Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and some of those forwards that came off the bench, is that game opened up a little bit," Turinui said.
"It was when the Wallabies had their strongest period, but sometimes you sort of overvalue what happens at the back end of games.
"It just changes - the first hour of the game is so much different to the rest of the game. But I wouldn't be surprised if Donaldson starts because it would mean Andrew Kellaway could come in at 15.
"I think that's a huge positive for the Wallabies. So whatever happens at 10, I'd be happy to see Andrew Kellaway at 15 for the Wallabies."
Wallabies lineout coach Dan Palmer would not confirm Donaldson's selection at 10 but did say that "Donno brings a level of composure to that position".
Kellaway, meanwhile, brought experience and direction.
"He knows the game, he's a leader both on and off the field."
Donaldson's last Test start at 10 was also against Wales, in a 39-34 win in Cardiff in November.
In an astonishing comeback, Australia came from 21 points down in the last 23 minutes.
Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi said he had faith in both Gordon and Donaldson.
"Him and Donno have got great heads on their shoulders in terms of playing - obviously not as experienced of playing many years - but the energy they bring and the great ideas they bring for our team," Kerevi said.
"We just want to explore that more as a backline and really give the those guys on the outside more opportunities to play.
"I'm just helping direct that in the middle but also that physical presence that I wasn't on the weekend, I need to need to bring this week."
SAINT-ETIENNE: All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens has warned of the risks of fielding an untested playmaking combination as Wallabies coach Eddie Jones prepares to name Ben Donaldson at No.10 for Monday's (AEST) crucial Rugby World Cup clash with Wales in Lyon.
Jones is expected to hand Donaldson the starting keys ahead of Carter Gordon, who had an unhappy night in the historic 22-15 loss to Fiji in Saint-Etienne.
That will allow Andrew Kellaway to start at fullback as Australia attempts to avoid a pool stage exit for the first time in the country's proud World Cup history.
Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the home of rugby, Stan Sport. Every match ad free, live and on demand in 4K UHD
"I'm a big Kellaway fan as well but I think the alternative of having Donaldson at 10 and Kellaway at 15 is too untried at this stage of the tournament, for this kind of a game," Mehrtens, who scored 967 points in 70 Tests, told Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven.
"You need the goalkicking with Donaldson. And I think also you decide that you're probably not going to counterattack much against the Welsh. You probably want to play the game of territory.
"They've got really good counterattacking players themselves."
READ MORE: Gun Wallabies rookie ruled out of Rugby World Cup
READ MORE: Wounded Wallabies boosted by star's good news
READ MORE: 'Hard to fathom': Inconvenient truth for Wallabies
Jones will confirm his team at 5.30pm AEST on Friday.
Gordon was hooked after 50 minutes at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard and the Wallabies did perform better when Donaldson took over at five-eighth.
But former Wallaby Morgan Turinui warned that it could be dangerous to read too much into that second half sample size.
NEW PODCAST! Fiji beat Australia for the first time in 69 years. Michael Atkinson, Sam Worthington and Tom Decent discuss what's next for the Wallabies
https://omny.fm/shows/rugby-world-cup-inside-line/a-dark-day-for-australian-rugby/embed?in_playlist=podcast&style=CoverStarting Donaldson at 10 is an extraordinary move given his mediocre Super Rugby season with the Waratahs and his subsequent move to the Force.
But Jones has backed himself into a corner by leaving experienced pivots Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley and James O'Connor at home.
"The danger there in picking Ben Donaldson, and even an Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and some of those forwards that came off the bench, is that game opened up a little bit," Turinui said.
"It was when the Wallabies had their strongest period, but sometimes you sort of overvalue what happens at the back end of games.
"It just changes - the first hour of the game is so much different to the rest of the game. But I wouldn't be surprised if Donaldson starts because it would mean Andrew Kellaway could come in at 15.
"I think that's a huge positive for the Wallabies. So whatever happens at 10, I'd be happy to see Andrew Kellaway at 15 for the Wallabies."
Wallabies lineout coach Dan Palmer would not confirm Donaldson's selection at 10 but did say that "Donno brings a level of composure to that position".
Kellaway, meanwhile, brought experience and direction.
"He knows the game, he's a leader both on and off the field."
Donaldson's last Test start at 10 was also against Wales, in a 39-34 win in Cardiff in November.
In an astonishing comeback, Australia came from 21 points down in the last 23 minutes.
Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi said he had faith in both Gordon and Donaldson.
"Him and Donno have got great heads on their shoulders in terms of playing - obviously not as experienced of playing many years - but the energy they bring and the great ideas they bring for our team," Kerevi said.
"We just want to explore that more as a backline and really give the those guys on the outside more opportunities to play.
"I'm just helping direct that in the middle but also that physical presence that I wasn't on the weekend, I need to need to bring this week."
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