Latest news with #Lolesio
Sydney Morning Herald
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Unless the Wallabies were playing possum, Lions may be in for a feast
The loss of Wallabies No.10 Noah Lolesio, a shattering blow for him and a worrying time for his family, leaves a big hole. Lolesio could never quite succeed in one of Australian rugby's most pointless pursuits – finding a saviour at No.10 – and judging by Nathan Cleary's latest State of Origin series, you can put a line through that name as well. Lolesio's degree of familiarity with Joe Schmidt's structured style of play is going to be hard to recreate, especially for a player coming in from outside the group. James O'Connor, the 35-year-old new man in the squad, will offer some hard-won experience, but he started one game for the Crusaders this year, and they got pumped 45-29 by Moana Pasifika in Christchurch. There are no easy answers. But what can be said with a far higher degree of certainty is that if the Wallabies defend as passively as they did against Fiji last week, they could have prime Dan Carter in their No.10 jersey, and this underwhelming British and Irish Lions side would still beat them. Against Fiji, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Len Ikitau probably had more running metres going sideways or backpedalling than they did going forwards. Granted, there are a million more pleasant ways of spending a Sunday afternoon than tackling Fiji No.12 Josua Tuisova, whose bossing of Suaalii emphasised the physical gap between Test rugby and the NRL, but if that was the line speed the Wallabies backs bring to the first test against the Lions in Brisbane on Saturday, they are in enormous trouble. It was, in fact, clearly the worst defensive display by any Australian team (compared to the Force, Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies) since the Lions landed. There was so much room for Tuisova to move into that it made you wonder if the Wallabies were playing possum in a cunning plan to lull the Lions into a false sense of security.
The Age
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Unless the Wallabies were playing possum, Lions may be in for a feast
The loss of Wallabies No.10 Noah Lolesio, a shattering blow for him and a worrying time for his family, leaves a big hole. Lolesio could never quite succeed in one of Australian rugby's most pointless pursuits – finding a saviour at No.10 – and judging by Nathan Cleary's latest State of Origin series, you can put a line through that name as well. Lolesio's degree of familiarity with Joe Schmidt's structured style of play is going to be hard to recreate, especially for a player coming in from outside the group. James O'Connor, the 35-year-old new man in the squad, will offer some hard-won experience, but he started one game for the Crusaders this year, and they got pumped 45-29 by Moana Pasifika in Christchurch. There are no easy answers. But what can be said with a far higher degree of certainty is that if the Wallabies defend as passively as they did against Fiji last week, they could have prime Dan Carter in their No.10 jersey, and this underwhelming British and Irish Lions side would still beat them. Against Fiji, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Len Ikitau probably had more running metres going sideways or backpedalling than they did going forwards. Granted, there are a million more pleasant ways of spending a Sunday afternoon than tackling Fiji No.12 Josua Tuisova, whose bossing of Suaalii emphasised the physical gap between Test rugby and the NRL, but if that was the line speed the Wallabies backs bring to the first test against the Lions in Brisbane on Saturday, they are in enormous trouble. It was, in fact, clearly the worst defensive display by any Australian team (compared to the Force, Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies) since the Lions landed. There was so much room for Tuisova to move into that it made you wonder if the Wallabies were playing possum in a cunning plan to lull the Lions into a false sense of security.
The Age
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘I'd prefer to beat these guys': Why Larkham is backing O'Connor to take on Lions
Brumbies coach and former Wallabies great Stephen Larkham says while investing in long term Australian five-eighths to replace the injured Noah Lolesio is understandable, veteran James O'Connor is a player who could help win a Test series right now. Larkham's Brumbies gave the British and Lions their toughest game so far in Australia on Wednesday night, going down by 12 points largely due to the control and vision of the Lions' world-class playmaker Finn Russell. Larkham got to watch Russell in action up close and understands the Wallabies need to carefully consider their options for a playmaker who can match the Scotland five-eighth. O'Connor is training in Brisbane and could provide the answer. 'The British and Irish Lions comes around every 12 years, and you certainly want to have your best team on the field to win,' Larkham said. 'I think our guys in Super Rugby have been playing well. You've got Tom Lynagh, you've got Ben Donaldson, you've got Tane Edmed ... you've got guys around Australia who have been performing in Super Rugby. 'You've got James O'Connor, who was over with the Crusaders, and he was performing over there – there's options there ... Part of me would like to see development for the future in that space, but equally, I'd prefer to beat these guys [the Lions].' Larkham has been in close contact with Lolesio after the Wallabies five-eighth had successful neck surgery. Lolesio will now take time away from rugby to recuperate before a planned move to Japan. Given Larkham's wealth of playing experience for the Brumbies and Australia at five-eighth, the Brumbies coach says he would consider taking some of the defensive pressure of Lolesio, given his history of injury, including leaving the field in a neck brace twice this season: once for the Wallabies against Fiji on Sunday and against the Force in May with the Brumbies.
Sydney Morning Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I'd prefer to beat these guys': Why Larkham is backing O'Connor to take on Lions
Brumbies coach and former Wallabies great Stephen Larkham says while investing in long term Australian five-eighths to replace the injured Noah Lolesio is understandable, veteran James O'Connor is a player who could help win a Test series right now. Larkham's Brumbies gave the British and Lions their toughest game so far in Australia on Wednesday night, going down by 12 points largely due to the control and vision of the Lions' world-class playmaker Finn Russell. Larkham got to watch Russell in action up close and understands the Wallabies need to carefully consider their options for a playmaker who can match the Scotland five-eighth. O'Connor is training in Brisbane and could provide the answer. 'The British and Irish Lions comes around every 12 years, and you certainly want to have your best team on the field to win,' Larkham said. 'I think our guys in Super Rugby have been playing well. You've got Tom Lynagh, you've got Ben Donaldson, you've got Tane Edmed ... you've got guys around Australia who have been performing in Super Rugby. 'You've got James O'Connor, who was over with the Crusaders, and he was performing over there – there's options there ... Part of me would like to see development for the future in that space, but equally, I'd prefer to beat these guys [the Lions].' Larkham has been in close contact with Lolesio after the Wallabies five-eighth had successful neck surgery. Lolesio will now take time away from rugby to recuperate before a planned move to Japan. Given Larkham's wealth of playing experience for the Brumbies and Australia at five-eighth, the Brumbies coach says he would consider taking some of the defensive pressure of Lolesio, given his history of injury, including leaving the field in a neck brace twice this season: once for the Wallabies against Fiji on Sunday and against the Force in May with the Brumbies.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Wallabies playmaker out of Lions series after neck surgery
Wallabies five-eighth Noah Lolesio is out of the British and Irish Lions series after undergoing neck surgery on Tuesday, following a whiplash injury suffered in Australia's win over Fiji in Newcastle. There is confidence Lolesio will make a full recovery and be able to play again, but after starting 11 of the Wallabies 13 Tests last year, Lolesio's loss leaves coach Joe Schmidt with a play-making crisis on the eve of the Lions Test series, starting next Saturday. Lolesio underwent a spinal fusion procedure in Brisbane after being taken from the field on a medicab in the second half of the Wallabies' win over Fiji on Sunday. He was taken to Newcastle Hospital but discharged on Sunday night, with the Wallabies initially issuing a release that the 25-year-old had been 'cleared of significant damage'. But the severity of the neck injury is greater than initially thought, and after seeing a specialist in Brisbane on Monday, Lolesio had surgery on Tuesday. The injury and procedure are set to rule Lolesio out of rugby for the Lions series and a lengthy period of time, but there is confidence the Wallabies playmaker will be able to play rugby again in the future. In a statement on Tuesday night, Rugby Australia said there was optimism about Lolesio's future. 'He is expected to make a full recovery and will spend a period of time away from the game during his rehabilitation,' the statement said.
