Source : ABC NEWS
The Australian rugby community would have breathed a sigh of relief upon learning Noah Lolesio had been cleared of serious injury.
Lolesio, the Wallabies’ incumbent fly half, was stretchered from the field during the ACT Brumbies’ 33-14 win over the Western Force in Perth on Saturday night.
There were fears he’d sustained a spinal fracture, but that prospect was ruled out after he underwent assessment and medical imaging at Royal Perth Hospital.
The Brumbies say there is no timeline in place for when Lolesio will return to play, but there’s no question his wellbeing is the key priority.
Lolesio joins a lengthy list of Wallabies on the sidelines as the British and Irish Lions series fast approaches.
The Queensland Reds have been hit hard, with Harry Wilson (arm) and Liam Wright (shoulder) — who both captained the Wallabies last year — sitting alongside Matt Faessler (hamstring) and Josh Flook (hamstring) on the long-term injury list.
At the NSW Waratahs, Max Jorgensen (syndesmosis) is continuing his recovery and there are doubts about Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii playing again this Super Rugby Pacific season after he was concussed in the 28-21 loss to the Reds in Sydney on Friday night.
The Force are also down on troops, with Dylan Pietsch (quad) and Brandon Paenga-Amosa (ankle) among those watching from the stands, while a fresh concern arose when Carlo Tizzano (pectoral) was a late scratching from the clash with the Brumbies, although it may only be a short-term issue.
The Brumbies haven’t been spared as they await the return of Charlie Cale, who hasn’t played since mid-March due to a lower-back injury.
No genuine contender for a Wallabies jersey has been ruled out of the Lions series at this stage, but there’s still a way to go before the squad for the first Test in Brisbane is selected.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii suffered a concussion during the Waratahs-Reds match. (Getty Images: Pete Dovgan)
There are three rounds left in the Super Rugby Pacific regular season before the finals, however only the Brumbies and Reds appear likely to qualify for the play-offs.
Super Rugby Pacific is an attritional competition and its previous iterations proved this point ahead of the Lions tours to Australia in 2001 and 2013.
David Pocock, Scott Higginbotham, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sitaleki Timani were among those injured during the 2013 Super Rugby season, forcing them to miss all three Lions Tests.
The Wallabies defeated the Lions in 2001, but they did so without Stirling Mortlock after he suffered a shoulder dislocation in the Super 12 semifinals.
During the series, they had to cope with losing Stephen Larkham and David Giffin to shoulder injuries, as well as having Jeremy Paul (knee) ruled out following the first Test.
Depth is always critical in Test rugby and in the context of the upcoming Lions tour, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is all too mindful of this fact.
It was wise of Schmidt to hand 19 players Test debuts in 2024, as he’s aware threadbare depth can cruel the Wallabies’ chance of defeating the Lions.
Schmidt ready for ‘Irish formula’
Reacting to the Lions squad announcement last week, Schmidt summed up his feelings succinctly.
“Predictable,” Schmidt offered to Stan Sport on Friday night, when asked for his thoughts on the make-up of Andy Farrell’s 38-player squad.
Schmidt wasn’t being dismissive, rather he knows what to expect from a team coached by Farrell, of whom he has enormous respect.
They worked together in the Irish set-up between 2016 and 2019, with Farrell succeeding Schmidt as head coach.
Schmidt wasn’t surprised to see 15 Irish players selected, with 12 coming from powerhouse province Leinster, highlighting familiarity and combinations are likely to be a feature of the Test squad Farrell settles upon.
“I think they’re going to try to play with plenty of pace, plenty of phases and plenty of options,” Schmidt said.
“They love having options across the field and having access to them.”
Schmidt added: “That has been the Irish formula and I can imagine that’s going to be the Lions formula.”
He also hinted he won’t be reactive with his squad selection, showing confidence in how the Wallabies program has progressed under his watch.
Will Aussie combinations be rewarded?
It was interesting Schmidt noted Irish provincial combinations may form part of Farrell’s selection approach, as he is faced with a similar situation.
For example, the Brumbies’ first-choice front row — consisting of captain Allan Alaalatoa, James Slipper and Billy Pollard — has been effective this season, helping the Canberra-based team rise to second place on the standings.
Alaalatoa has been the best-performed Australian tight-head prop and Pollard is the pick of the hookers.
But will Schmidt show faith in the Brumbies trio and select Slipper ahead of the Waratahs’ Angus Bell at loose-head prop?
Slipper and Bell have each played well enough this season to earn a start against the Lions.
James Slipper is vying for the Wallabies’ starting loose-head prop role. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
Who slots into the Wallabies’ second row for the first Lions Test is also intriguing.
Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain anchor a formidable defensive line-out for the ninth-placed Force, as they showed against the Brumbies.
Both have impressed with their work rate in defence and attack throughout the season.
However, the form of the Brumbies’ Nick Frost and the Reds’ Josh Canham will be difficult to ignore at the selection table.
Gordon shows he’s nearing his best
After a forgettable return from injury against the Brumbies in round 12, Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon signalled against the Reds he will soon be back to his best.
Gordon — who was issued a yellow card during the 40-17 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra — put in a productive 64-minute shift in the gritty defeat to the Reds, which left the Waratahs in eighth position.
Wearing heavy strapping on his right knee, Gordon expertly marshalled his team in the build-up to their opening try, scored by Henry O’Donnell.
He directed the Waratahs’ attack as they employed one-out runners and “pick and go” carries, and even took on the Reds’ defensive line himself a few phases before O’Donnell crossed the stripe.
Jake Gordon was solid for the Waratahs against the Reds on Friday night. (Getty Images: Matt King)
Just over 10 minutes later, Gordon touched down for a five-pointer of his own to help the Waratahs establish an early 14-0 lead, which they ultimately couldn’t defend.
Facing off with chief rival for the Wallabies’ scrum-half role, Tate McDermott, Gordon didn’t lower his colours and it was a split decision on who came out on top.
While the presence of Gordon hasn’t helped the Waratahs revive their fading finals hopes, Schmidt would be heartened to see the 31-year-old back on the field after he sustained an MCL injury in round four.
Freshly re-signed with the Waratahs, Gordon — if he remains fit — is a likely inclusion in Schmidt’s match-day squad, having started in nine of 13 Tests last year.
McDermott, though, deserves to be considered favourite to get first crack at wearing the Wallabies’ number nine jersey, having performed superbly for the Reds this season.
Daugunu proves his value
Filipo Daugunu’s best chance of gaining Wallabies selection to play the Lions still appears to be on the wing.
But Reds coach Les Kiss’s move to use Daugunu in the midfield during the season — partly out of necessity — has given the Wallabies a legitimate option at outside centre, should injury and suspension play a factor in the selection process.
Daugunu packed on muscle in the off-season and has become even more abrasive when carrying the ball, displaying greater ability to bust the tackle.
He has grown in confidence with his decision-making while playing outside centre, as illustrated against the Waratahs.
Filipo Daugunu has impressed when playing outside centre for the Reds this season. (Getty Images: Pete Dovgan)
With the scores locked at 21-21 in the 76th minute, Daugunu came up with a clutch play when he launched a cross-field kick to find winger Lachie Anderson unmarked on the right flank.
Anderson secured the ball after the first bounce and beat the cover defence to score the match-winning try and consolidate the Reds’ hold on fourth spot on the standings.
The Reds looked set to transfer the ball by hand, but Daugunu brilliantly read the Waratahs’ defensive line to put his teammate away in the corner.
Tom Wright seems to have his nose in front for the Wallabies’ fullback spot, meaning Suaalii is expected to play outside centre against the Lions.
That would force Brumbies’ 13 Len Ikitau to shift from his preferred position to inside centre, as he did on the Wallabies’ spring tour last year.
Daugunu can provide cover at outside, having shown significant promise in the role for the Reds.
