Monday, 26 November 2018:

WILL GENIA of the Wallabies passes the ball during an International Test match at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia.

Jake Gordon must take over from Will Genia as Wallabies halfback for next year's Rugby World Cup, according to Australian great Matt Burke.

The 30-year-old Genia played his 100th Test in the 37-18 loss to England at Twickenham which drew the curtain on a dismal year for the national team.

But Burke felt he had lost his edge and joined former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer's call for sharp-running NSW Waratahs No.9 Gordon to take over as Australia's first-choice halfback.

"I just feel (Genia's) play is not up to it at the moment," 1999 World Cup-winning fullback Burke told the Big Sports Breakfast.

"He doesn't want to commit to a breakdown ... his passing is a bit slow, it's just all a bit off.

"Jake Gordon must be the halfback at the World Cup."

Burke said Genia appeared to be taking a cautious approach which was affecting his game.

"I've been there. When you get older you start to work out the consequences of 'If I put my head in that situation'," he said.

"When you're a young bloke you don't care, you just put your head in there and think that you'll win the ball."

The Wallabies won just four of 13 Tests in 2018 and Burke believed the problems were widespread, saying they were making attacking errors an under-12 side wouldn't make while their defensive system was "all over the shop".

AAP