Schmidt Faces Challenges After Wallabies' Narrow Win Over Fiji

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt faced a mixed reaction to his team's narrow victory over Fiji, with the first test against the British and Irish Lions rapidly approaching. The win, secured in the final moments, followed a performance that drew both praise and criticism.

Despite a dominant first half, Australia found themselves trailing Fiji before a late try secured a 21-18 win. Schmidt acknowledged that the performance wouldn't intimidate the Lions and admitted to having numerous concerns as the team prepared for the upcoming series. He noted the team's limited time together and the expectation of immediate seamlessness.

Injuries are a significant concern for Schmidt, particularly given the lack of experienced players in key positions. Flyhalf Noah Lolesio was stretchered off with a whiplash injury, and Schmidt considered calling up a more experienced playmaker for the Lions series, even though he felt replacement Ben Donaldson performed well.

Australia's performance against Fiji highlighted areas needing improvement, including lineout accuracy. The concussion of hooker Dave Porecki added to Schmidt's worries. The Fijians' second-half dominance, fueled by their backline, also raised concerns. The absence of key players like Will Skelton and Rob Valetini further complicated matters.