Concern in the Wallabies: Noah Lolesio undergoes surgery
The Wallabies’ preparation for the series against the British & Irish Lions is shaken by a new update on the injury of the talented Noah Lolesio, who underwent surgery. Lolesio, who left the field in the 61st minute of Australia’s thrilling 21-18 victory over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, was initially discharged from the hospital after being ruled out with a serious injury. However, on Tuesday night, Rugby Australia confirmed that Lolesio had undergone surgery.The statement adds that Lolesio suffered the injury in the second half of the match against Fiji and that, after a medical review, he was readmitted for surgery.“Rugby Australia and the Wallabies confirm that Noah Lolesio has been successfully operated on today,” reads a statement.
Rugby Australia statement
Although the statement did not specify that the surgery was on the neck, information from Sunday indicated that he had been removed from the field due to a “presumed neck injury”.
It is very likely that Lolesio will miss the first test against the British & Irish Lions, and possibly the entire series. Lolesio had started in 12 of the 14 matches the Wallabies have played under Schmidt’s direction, becoming the coach’s preferred number 10. Faced with this situation, Schmidt only has Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh as opening options, who were originally selected to face Fiji. The Wallabies coach will announce a new team to face the Lions on Friday. The NSW Waratahs’ out-half, Tane Edmed, is currently in Adelaide with the AUNZ Invitational XV, preparing to face the tourists, and previously trained with the Wallabies group last week. After Australia’s victory on Sunday, Schmidt reiterated his support for the three players he had selected to face Fiji. “Obviously, we haven’t selected our team for the Lions,” Schmidt said. “This was a match before that, and we’ll 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. He put us in the corner, did what was needed to make sure we were in the game at the end and we managed to win. So, yes, I think we haven’t been together for six months, and to have five training sessions and be impeccable would be an expectation I would have hoped for rather than believed would happen immediately.” The situation could change with Lolesio’s new diagnosis.“Firstly, we are relieved that Noah was okay when he returned to the team hotel after his initial visit to the hospital in Newcastle on Sunday. Furthermore, it is a relief for everyone, especially his family, that the surgery was successful and that he is now on the road to recovery”.
Joe Schmidt, Wallabies coach
Just two months ago, Lolesio also had to be taken off the field in the match against Western Force in Perth, but was then ruled out due to injury. However, he was out for two weeks and then suffered a head knock in the semi-final against the Chiefs. He also suffered a head knock in the first match against the Drua, which caused him to miss the next three Brumbies matches.
Earlier this year, Lolesio announced that he would go to Japan with a one-year contract, with the possibility of another season. It was expected that this decision would jeopardize his position in the Wallabies beyond the series against the Lions, and that Schmidt would try to move forward with Donaldson or Lynagh at the helm. Lolesio discussed how Schmidt’s decision to leave the Wallabies at the end of this year’s Rugby Championship had influenced his decision to go abroad, before the coach agreed to an extension that would take him through mid-2026 as part of Les Kiss’s succession plan.
