NEWCASTLE — Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio has been cleared of any severe damage after he was stretchered off on Sunday, whereas coach Joe Schmidt once more rejected recommendations Australia wanted so as to add an skilled playmaker for the British & Irish Lions sequence.
Lolesio was carted off McDonald Jones Stadium within the 61st minute of Australia’s 21-18 victory over Fiji, the fly-half showing to undergo whiplash as he was tackled beneath the guests’ posts, earlier than they then surged up discipline and had been solely denied a sensational five-pointer by the TMO.
Whereas Schmidt advised reporters on the post-match media convention he didn’t know the extent of Lolesio’s situation, the Wallabies confirmed later Sunday night that he had been launched from hospital and cleared of great damage.
However it was the second time within the area of three months that Lolesio had been taken from the sphere in a medicab — Lolesio was carried from HBF Park in Perth in the course of the Brumbies’ Spherical 13 win over the Pressure — whereas he additionally suffered a head knock within the eleventh minute of their semifinal defeat by the Chiefs.
These three separate incidents have led to questions on his means to navigate what is anticipated to be an extremely bodily sequence in opposition to the Lions, which will get underway in Brisbane in 12 days’ time.
A Wallabies spokesperson stated Lolesio would proceed to be “medically monitored… with a observe as much as be undertaken within the coming days.”
Lolesio was changed by Ben Donaldson in Newcastle on Sunday, whereas Schmidt additionally had two-cap teen Tom Lynagh in his prolonged squad to face the Fijians.
Questioned whether or not it is likely to be time so as to add an skilled playmaker to the combo — the Wallabies will identify their squad to face the Lions on later this week — Schmidt once more caught strong behind his younger fly-half trio.
“We clearly have not chosen our Lions squad,” Schmidt stated. “This was one sport that sat earlier than that, and we’ll sit down and think about our choices. However you probably have a take a look at what Ben Donaldson did, I am undecided that he did not do precisely what he was wanted to do.
“He put us into the nook, he did what was wanted to be sure that we had been within the sport on the finish and bought the sport completed. So, yeah, I feel we have not been collectively for six months, and to have 5 trainings and to be seamless can be an expectation that I might hoped for moderately than believed would instantly occur.
“So, now we have now one other quick runway to try to enhance from the place we had been in the present day.”
Rugby Australia on Monday confirmed the ultimate make-up of the AUNZ Invitational squad, with neither James O’Connor nor Bernard Foley named among the many group as anticipated.
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Tane Edmed have as a substitute been given the chance to impress, whereas it’s understood that the price of insuring Foley at age 35 and O’Connor at 34, was one of many key obstacles prohibiting their inclusion.
On Sunday in Newcastle, in the meantime, Lolesio had earlier produced a gradual first-half show because the Wallabies dominated possession and territory, however lacked the polish to construct what would have been a commanding halftime lead.
As a substitute, their 14-0 benefit was lowered to simply 9 factors, a midfield chip from Lolesio 10 seconds from the hooter giving the Fijians a chance to counter – just about their solely attacking foray of the primary half – from which debutant fullback Salesi Rayasi powered his method by way of three Wallabies defenders and into the nook.
That late strive appeared to embolden the guests, who rode the momentum into the second half and later moved forward 18-14.
In the long run, solely skipper Harry Wilson’s late five-pointer bought the Wallabies out of jail in Newcastle, their second-half effort specifically providing little proof to counsel they are often assured of upsetting the Lions within the three-Check sequence.
“It is not likely a mindset that we have had time to think about even, I am certain externally it would appear like that,” Schmidt replied when requested whether or not the “underdog” place was one the Wallabies would relish.
“We did not play properly sufficient in the present day for individuals to have the expectation that we will come bowling into Brisbane and knock the Lions over. I am undecided that expectation was there earlier than in the present day.
“As I stated, we’re simply going to need to construct that quiet resolve that inch by inch we will work our method towards that.”
The Wallabies even have issues over hooker Dave Porecki, who was one other participant to undergo a head knock in Newcastle.
