NEWCASTLE: The Wallabies scraped a narrow victory against Fiji, thanks to Harry Wilson’s last-minute try, securing a 21-18 win at McDonald Jones Stadium. This triumph offered a small redemption following their disappointing exit from the 2023 Rugby World Cup. However, the victory was overshadowed by fresh injury concerns for coach Joe Schmidt, particularly involving key players Noah Lolesio and David Porecki ahead of the upcoming British and Irish Lions series.
With the Lions likely unfazed by the Wallabies’ performance, Schmidt now faces additional challenges. Lolesio, who has had a challenging season plagued with a concussion and back injury, unfortunately left the field in the second half due to what was described as a whiplash injury. Schmidt expressed hope that Lolesio’s condition will improve quickly but emphasised the importance of ensuring his safety before allowing him to play again.
The squad will soon face the Lions in their opening Test in Brisbane on July 19, with Schmidt also missing other regulars such as Rob Valetini, Will Skelton, and Jake Gordon due to injuries. As he prepares a revised squad to confront the Lions, Schmidt has not ruled out the possibility of bringing in experienced players like Bernard Foley or James O’Connor.
Schmidt noted that Lolesio remained focused on the game despite his injury, asking if they had won immediately after the match. He acknowledged Ben Donaldson’s contributions in Lolesio’s absence, indicating that he managed to keep the team competitive until Wilson’s decisive late score. Porecki, who scored the opening try, was forced to exit the match after a head injury assessment (HIA), making for a disappointing return to international rugby after captaining the team at the World Cup.
The Wallabies have additional depth in their squad with hookers Billy Pollard and Matt Faessler available, and Schmidt remains optimistic about Porecki’s recovery. Fellow prop Allan Alaalatoa reassured that the team is hoping for Porecki’s quick return, emphasising the need for players to rest and recover.
In the meantime, the Lions are set to face the ACT Brumbies this Wednesday, where they will look to improve upon their previous Australian tour experiences. The Brumbies notably defeated the Lions during their last visit in 2013, adding further intrigue to the upcoming clash.