Wallabies fly-half Noah Lolesio is agonisingly expected to miss the entirety of the British and Irish Lions tour after undergoing surgery on an injury he sustained during Australia’s narrow victory against Fiji.
Lolesio was removed from the field on a stretcher while wearing a neck brace during his side’s 21-18 win at the McDonald Jones Stadium.
He appeared to suffer a whiplash injury after his head had struck the ground as he attempted to make a tackle.
The 25-year-old playmaker had initially been discharged from hospital on Monday but returned to undergo surgery on Tuesday afternoon, following a medical follow-up.
The news comes as a huge blow for Joe Schmidt‘s side, with Rugby Australia confirming that the versatile half, who had been backed to start at 10 during the first Test against the Lions, will now ‘spend a period of time away from the game during his rehabilitation.’
‘Firstly, we were relieved that Noah was up and moving well when he returned to the team hotel after his initial hospital visit in Newcastle on Sunday,’ head coach, Schmidt, said.
Noah Lolesio (centre) is expected to be ruled out of selection for the British and Irish Lions tour Down Under, in what is a huge blow for Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies side
Lolesio was removed from the field during Australia’s narrow win against Fiji this weekend on a stretcher, wearing a neck brace
The fly-half appeared to suffer a whiplash injury during the match, banging his head on the floor
‘Further to that, it’s an added relief for everyone, especially his family, that successful surgery now has him on the road to recovery.’
Rugby Australia added that they would continue to support Lolesio throughout his rehabilitation.
Lolesio made his debut for the Wallabies back in 2020, and has since won 23 caps, scoring 164 points for his national side.
The fly-half, who recently signed a short-term deal to play for an unnamed club in Japan next season, started in all four of Australia’s Autumn internationals last year, notably orchestrating Australia’s huge victory against England at Twickenham. He has also featured in 11 of the 13 Test matches Schmidt has overseen.
The news came just after Lions assistant coach Johnny Sexton had been asked for his take on the Australia’s options at No 10, with the former Ireland captain lumping praise on Lolesio.
‘I think Tom Lynagh has been excellent all year. I think Ben Donaldson did really well when he came on. I think they’re both quality players,’ Sexton said.
‘But obviously Lolesio’s their number one based on their last, whatever, 10 games. He played the majority of the big games under Joe (Schmidt), so he’ll know Joe’s way. So he’ll be a loss for them.’
The injury news means that Schmidt could turn to veteran playmaker James O’Connor, who, in the run-up to the series, had made it clear that he hoped to seal a spot in the Wallabies squad.
The news comes as a huge blow for Joe Schmidt (pictured) who had started Lolesio in 11 of the 13 Tests he’s taken charge of
Lolesio’s omission could now open up a spot for Wallabies hopeful James O’Connor (pictured)
O’Connor, 35, has impressed this year, helping guide the Crusaders to Super Rugby Pacifica glory.
His form had sprung him into the frame for a potential test selection, however, Schmidt opted to leave the veteran half-back out of his plans.
He admitted that the Australian coaching group did not want to disrupt the progression of their three emerging fly-half options: Lolesio, Lynagh and Donaldson.
‘What I like about those players is they were investing in themselves really well in our environment last year,’ he said in reference to Lolesio, Lynagh and Donaldson.
‘I think we saw all three of them make improvements to their game, increase their own confidence to drive the game and to communicate the game to other players.
‘We didn’t want to interrupt that,’ Schmidt added.
The Australia coach, who will leave his role with the side at the end of October’s Rugby Championship, could also look to Samu Kerevi and Bernard Foley, with whom he admitted he had held conversations with prior to selecting his squad.
The Lions are in action again on Wednesday night against the Brumbies at the GIO Stadium.
They’ll take on Australia in their opening Test of the tour at the Suncorp Stadium on July 19.
