Describing him as the benchmark Test winger, Will Jordan knows he will have his hands full trying to contain Wallabies game-breaker Marika Koroibete in Thursday’s Bledisloe Cup encounter.
The All Blacks winger will be in Koroibete’s firing line at Marvel Stadium with the Fijian flyer being up front this week about what the Wallabies needed to bring to upset their trans-Tasman rivals.
Playing his 50th Test, Koroibete has promised extra “aggression and brutality” as the Australians look to end a 19-year Bledisloe domination by New Zealand.
Jordan said he was ready for the challenge.
“I’ve matched up with Marika a few times over the years and he’s a pretty punishing ball-runner and certainly goes out with all guns blazing,” Jordan said on Tuesday from their Melbourne base.
“He’s probably been setting the benchmark for wingers over the last two or three years so it’s always exciting playing against him – it’s a real challenge.”
The Wallabies have named a new fullback in Andrew Kellaway, with Tom Wright on the other wing and Jordan felt it was a well-balanced back three.
“You’ve got the power of Marika on the left and Tom Wright with his speed and footwork and Kellaway was pretty strong in the three Tests against us last year so it’s a good balance of different games styles; a pretty strong unit.”
While he didn’t get across the line himself, Jordan was part of the All Blacks’ seven-try 53-3 romp over Argentina in their last outing.
He said attack coach Joe Schmidt, who has taken on a bigger role over the past month amid some indifferent form from his charges, had been a big influence.
“Over the three months or so it’s been a little bit tough getting the ball out wide and I’ve had some great chats with Joe Schmidt in particular in the last couple of week about how we can influence the game a bit more when the ball’s not coming our way,” said Jordan, who has played 19 Tests.
“It’s about having as much impact and influence off the ball as on it and then when you do get the opportunity with ball in hand … I’m getting pretty excited, under the roof so hopefully a bit of running footy.”