Australia have suffered a significant setback with confirmation that their first-choice fly-half, Noah Lolesio, will miss the Lions series through injury. Lolesio has undergone surgery on his neck and the Wallaby coach, Joe Schmidt, will now have to select a different playmaker and goalkicker for next week’s first Test in Brisbane.
The two main candidates are Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh, but Lolesio has started 12 of the past 14 Wallaby Tests under Schmidt and his absence will be keenly felt. Other possible alternatives include the veterans James O’Connor and Bernard Foley, both of whom are 35 and have been playing in New Zealand and Japan respectively.
