The Wallabies’ preparations for the British & Irish Lions sequence have been rocked by an up to date prognosis for injured playmaker Noah Lolesio, who has undergone surgical procedure on his neck.
Lolesio left the sector within the 61st minute of Australia’s thrilling 21-18 win over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday in a medicab, however was later cleared of any critical damage and launched from hospital.
However in a dramatic flip of occasions, Rugby Australia on Tuesday night confirmed that Lolesio had undergone surgical procedure earlier within the day.
“Rugby Australia and the Wallabies can affirm Noah Lolesio has had profitable surgical procedure at the moment,” a media assertion learn.
“Lolesio sustained an on-field damage within the second half of the Check in opposition to Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday. After being initially discharged from hospital on Sunday night time, Lolesio was readmitted for surgical procedure this afternoon following an additional medical follow-up.
“He’s anticipated to make a full restoration and can spend a time period away from the sport throughout his rehabilitation.”
Whereas the assertion didn’t specify the surgical procedure was on his neck, Sunday’s replace stated that he had been stretchered off for a “suspected neck damage”.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt added: “Firstly, we have been relieved that Noah was up and transferring properly when he returned to the staff lodge after his preliminary hospital go to in Newcastle on Sunday. Additional to that, it is an added reduction for everybody, particularly his household, that profitable surgical procedure now has him on the highway to restoration.”
Whereas the RA assertion specified that Lolesio would spend a while “away from the sport”, it’s extremely possible that can rule him out of the primary Check in opposition to the British & Irish Lions and possibly the sequence.
Lolesio had began 12 of the 14 Assessments the Wallabies have performed beneath Schmidt, turning into the Kiwi’s first-choice No. 10. This newest improvement leaves Schmidt with solely Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh as fly-half choices initially chosen to face Fiji, with the Wallabies coach set to call a brand new squad to face the Lions on Friday.
Outgoing NSW Waratahs playmaker Tane Edmed is at the moment in Adelaide with the AUNZ Invitational XV making ready to face the vacationers and beforehand educated with the broader Wallabies group final week.
Requested after Australia’s win on Sunday whether or not he would contemplate bringing in an skilled 10, equivalent to Bernard Foley or James O’Connor to face the Lions, Schmidt at that stage reaffirmed his help for the three gamers he had chosen to face Fiji.
“We clearly have not chosen our Lions squad,” Schmidt stated. “This was one recreation that sat earlier than that, and we’ll sit down and contemplate our choices. However if in case you have a have 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 ensure that we have been within the recreation on the finish and acquired the sport accomplished. So, yeah, I feel we’ve not been collectively for six months, and to have 5 trainings and to be seamless can be an expectation that I might hoped for fairly than believed would instantly occur.
“So, now we now have one other brief runway to attempt to enhance from the place we have been at the moment.”
However how Lolesio’s up to date prognosis could change the scenario stays to be seen.
The Brumbies playmaker had solely two months in the past been stretchered off halfway by way of his aspect’s win over the Western Pressure in Perth, earlier than later being cleared of damage. Nonetheless, he spent two weeks on the sidelines, solely to then undergo a head knock within the semifinal defeat by the Chiefs. He additionally suffered a head knock in Spherical 1 in opposition to the Drua, which noticed him miss the Brumbies’ subsequent three video games.
Earlier this yr, Lolesio introduced he can be heading to Japan to take up a one-year deal, with the opportunity of an additional season.
The choice was anticipated to place his Wallabies place in jeopardy past the Lions sequence, with Schmidt as a substitute more likely to attempt to take the staff ahead with both Donaldson or Lynagh on the helm.
Lolesio spoke of how Schmidt’s determination to complete up with the Wallabies on the finish of this yr’s Rugby Championship had influenced his determination to go abroad, earlier than the Kiwi later agreed to an extension that can take him by way of to the center of 2026 as a part of the Les Kiss succession plan.
