Joe's woes mount as Lolesio blow shortens runway to fix Wallabies

MELBOURNE :Joe Schmidt's preparations for the British & Irish Lions tour appear on shaky ground with the loss of first-choice flyhalf Noah Lolesio deepening the sense of pessimism surrounding the Wallabies following their lacklustre showing against Fiji.

Schmidt was tasked with making the Wallabies competitive in time for the three-match series against the Lions but they were clunky in a 21-18 win over the Fijians, with only a late try saving them from a confidence-killing defeat.

With the first Lions test looming, Lolesio's series-ending neck injury from the Fiji clash has made Schmidt's task that much harder.

Robbed of his most experienced flyhalf, and accurate kicker to boot, Schmidt is left with the difficult choice of backing one of the inexperienced duo of Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh at flyhalf or gambling on a player like 35-year-old James O'Connor, who has not played a test in three years.

Meanwhile, hooker Dave Porecki is undergoing concussion protocols after playing his first test in nearly two years against Fiji, while question marks remain over the fitness of three of Schmidt's most important players.

Back row enforcer Rob Valetini and hulking lock Will Skelton missed the Fiji game with calf strains along with scrumhalf Jake Gordon, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Even if that trio recover in time for the July 19 series-opener against the Lions in Brisbane, they will sorely lack match sharpness next to their opponents.

Andy Farrell's squad, by contrast, will head to Brisbane with several tour matches under their belt, with combinations tested, tweaked and refined.

New Zealander Schmidt can only wish for the depth at Farrell's disposal as he ponders a squad bereft of world-class players and a gulf in