Rugby-Wallabies strike late to edge Fiji but lose Lolesio to concussion
NEWCASTLE, Australia (Reuters) -Australia lost starting flyhalf Noah Lolesio to concussion as they came from behind with a late try to beat Fiji 21-18 in their only warm-up for the test series against the British & Irish Lions on Sunday.
Captain Harry Wilson crossed a minute from time for a converted try that gave Australia a measure of revenge for their loss to Fiji at the 2023 World Cup, but the earlier sight of Lolesio departing the pitch on stretcher muted the celebrations.
Fiji scored tries through debutant Salesi Rayasi and Lekima Tagitagivalu either side of halftime and had eight points from the boot of flyhalf Caleb Muntz but came up just short of a first win over the Wallabies in Australia since 1954.
The Wallabies, who also had first-half tries from Dave Porecki and Fraser McReight, face the Lions in the first test in Brisbane on July 19 with further matches in Melbourne and Sydney on the following weekends.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney: Editing by William Mallard)
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