Joe Schmidt's Australia suffer HUGE injury blow ahead of test series against Andy Farrell's British & Irish Lions team
The news comes as first-choice flyhalf Noah Lolesio was ruled out after undergoing neck surgery.
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Australia's Noah Lolesio has been ruled out of the Lions series after surgery following a neck injury against Fiji
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The news will come as a huge blow to Joe Schmidt ahead of the series against the Lions
Lolesio was stretchered off during the
The Brumbies ten landed awkwardly on his head following a tackle.
A statement from Rugby Australia confirmed the devastating news: 'After being initially discharged from hospital on Sunday night, Lolesio was readmitted for surgery this afternoon following a further medical follow-up.
'He is expected to make a full recovery and will spend a period of time away from the game during his rehabilitation.'
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The injury comes just a few months after the player suffered a back injury for his club side.
Head coach Joe Schmidt will name his squad on Friday for the three-match series against
The former
'Further to that, it's an added relief for everyone, especially his family, that successful surgery now has him on the road to recovery.'
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Meanwhile, Joe Schmidt also delivered a blunt reality check for his side ahead of clashes against the British and Irish Lions.
Andy Farrell wants end to social media 'nonsense' after son Owen's Lions call
And the
Despite the game being their first outing since the turn of the year, the New Zealander admitted he expected more from his side.
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He said: 'We haven't been together for six months, and to have five trainings and to be seamless would be an expectation I'd hope for rather than believe would immediately happen.
'Now we have another short run to improve on what we saw today.'
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