Wallabies fullback battle: Max Jorgensen and Jordan Petaia go head-to-head in Super Rugby

Two of the Australian rugby’s most exciting prospects will go head-to-head this weekend in a battle which could have huge ramificiations for the Wallabies’ World Cup dream.

While Israel Folau prepares to return to Twickenham next month, the future of the Wallabies No.15 jersey could be determined in Saturday’s Super Rugby showdown between the Waratahs and Reds.

Two of the most exciting talents in Australian rugby, Max Jorgensen and Jordan Petaia, go head-to-head as fullbacks for the crunch game and an impressive showing will fling them further up the chart of Wallaby coach Eddie Jones’ notepad.

Eddie Jones has a big call to make on his preferred Wallabies fullback.

Jones will coach the Barbarians against a World VX expected to feature Folau, on May 28 in London’s famous rugby cathedral.

Since Folau’s ugly legal battle and departure from Australian rugby in 2019, following homophobic social media posts and a multimillion dollar court settlement, the Wallabies fullback spot has been a revolving slew of players.

At the moment, Jorgensen, Petaia, Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway and Reece Hodge would all be in contention to wear the jersey at the World Cup.

What Australia needs, if there is any chance of winning the Cup, is for one of those players to make a dominant statement and claim the position as their own for the entire international season.

Chopping and changing the key position has failed in the past and will fail again in France if there is still debate as to who the best No.15 is.

So when NSW take on Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night, the battle between Jorgensen and Petaia will be the standout rivalry.

Teenager Jorgensen has shown all the skill and mettle to suggest he will be a future Wallabies star, but can he climb the mountain this year?

Max Jorgensen slips a tackle.

Jordan Petaia on the charge for Queensland Reds.

Petaia, on the other hand, has been hailed as the most exciting player since Folau for years, but through injury and lack of form hasn’t lived up to the hype.

He has a chance to show critics he is, indeed, as good as everyone thought he was in 2019.

One of them could face Folau – who is expected to play for Tonga at the World Cup.

Israel Folau playing for Tonga last year.

But the fullback battle won’t be the only one that intrigues Jones.

Halfbacks Jake Gordon and Tate McDermott — who were both left out of Jones’ recent Wallabies training camp — will have much to prove.

While Brumbies duo Nic White and Ryan Lonergan participated in the camp and would have the inside running, the Wallabies are highly unlikely to take just two halfbacks to the World Cup. It is a crucial, non-interchangeable position and requires injury and workload back-up.

McDermott held the Wallabies No.9 jersey last year while Gordon has had his chances and the scrumhalf with the better performance in this match-up will surely streak ahead.

In the forwards, openside stars Michael Hooper and Fraser McReight collide in the most influential one-on-one showdown of the game.

Hooper has the runs on the board at Test level, but young McReight is hungry and has been playing outstanding rugby to make his case for the Wallabies No.7 jersey.

The Reds are sixth on the ladder after 10 rounds, with 19 points, while the Tahs are seventh with 17 points.

This result will be crucial for both sides’ playoff hopes, with just four rounds remaining.

Originally published as Wallabies fullback battle: Max Jorgensen and Jordan Petaia go head-to-head in Super Rugby