Schmidt Confirms: Lolesio OK, No Plan B in Wallabies vs. Lions

Noah Lolesio, out of danger after the Wallabies’ victory over Fiji

The talented Wallabies player, Noah Lolesio, has been ruled out with any serious injury after being taken off the field on Sunday. The coach, Joe Schmidt, has again rejected suggestions that Australia needs an experienced player for the series against the British & Irish Lions. Lolesio was substituted in the 61st minute of the match at McDonald Jones Stadium, where Australia defeated Fiji 21-18. The fly-half appeared to suffer whiplash after a hard tackle near the posts, before the team launched an attack and was stopped by the TMO. Although Schmidt stated in the press conference after the match that he was unaware of the extent of Lolesio’s injury, the Wallabies later confirmed that he had been discharged from the hospital and ruled out with any serious injury. This incident marks the second time in three months that Lolesio has had to leave the field on a stretcher. He also suffered a head injury in the 11th minute of the semi-final defeat against the Chiefs. These three incidents have raised doubts about his ability to face a physical series against the Lions, which will begin in Brisbane in 12 days. A Wallabies spokesperson stated that Lolesio will continue to be “medically monitored… with follow-up in the coming days.” Ben Donaldson replaced Lolesio in Newcastle on Sunday, while Schmidt also had Tom Lynagh in his extended squad to face the Fijians.

Faced with the question of whether it was time to add an experienced player, Schmidt stood firm in his support for his young openers.

“Obviously, we haven’t selected our team for the Lions,” Schmidt said. “This was a match that preceded that, and we will sit down and consider our options. But if you look at what Ben Donaldson did, I’m not sure he didn’t do exactly what was needed.”

Joe Schmidt

Rugby Australia confirmed the final composition of the AUNZ Invitational team on Monday morning, with neither James O’Connor nor Bernard Foley being named in the group as expected. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Tane Edmed have had the opportunity to impress, while it is understood that the cost of securing Foley at 35 years old and O’Connor at 34, was one of the main obstacles to their inclusion.

On Sunday in Newcastle, Lolesio performed well in the first half, where the Wallabies dominated possession and territory, but lacked the necessary brilliance to build a considerable lead at halftime. Their 14-0 lead was reduced to just nine points, after a pass from Lolesio ten seconds before halftime gave the Fijians the opportunity to counterattack, practically their only offensive incursion in the first half, from which debutant fullback Salesi Rayasi broke through three Wallabies defenders and entered the corner. That late try seemed to embolden the visitors, who took advantage of the momentum in the second half and went ahead 18-14. At the end, only Harry Wilson’s try pulled the Wallabies out of trouble in Newcastle, and his effort in the second half offered little evidence to suggest that they can be sure of defeating the Lions in the three-match series. “Actually, it’s not a mindset we’ve had time to consider, I’m sure it will look that way externally,” Schmidt replied when asked if the “underdog” position was something the Wallabies would relish. “We didn’t play well enough today for people to expect us to go to Brisbane and beat the Lions. I’m not sure that expectation existed before today.” “As I said, we will have to build that quiet determination to move forward inch by inch towards that.”