Joes woes mount as Lolesio blow shortens runway to fix Wallabies

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FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Ireland v Australia - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - November 30, 2024 Australias Noah Lolesio in action REUTERS/Lorraine Osullivan/File Photo

MELBOURNE - Joe Schmidts preparations for the British amp; Irish Lions tour appear on shaky ground with the loss of first-choice flyhalf Noah Lolesio deepening the sense of pessimism surrounding the Wallabies following their lacklustre showing against Fiji.

Schmidt was tasked with making the Wallabies competitive in time for the three-match series against the Lions but they were clunky in a 21-18 win over the Fijians, with only a late try saving them from a confidence-killing defeat.

With the first Lions test looming, Lolesios series-ending neck injury from the Fiji clash has made Schmidts task that much harder.

Robbed of his most experienced flyhalf, and accurate kicker to boot, Schmidt is left with the difficult choice of backing one of the inexperienced duo of Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh at flyhalf or gambling on a player like 35-year-old James OConnor, who has not played a test in three years.

Meanwhile, hooker Dave Porecki is undergoing concussion protocols after playing his first test in nearly two years against Fiji, while question marks remain over the fitness of three of Schmidts most important players.

Back row enforcer Rob Valetini and hulking lock Will Skelton missed the Fiji game with calf strains along with scrumhalf Jake Gordon, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Even if that trio recover in time for the July