Injured Wallabies stars racing clock for Lions series

NEWCASTLE: The Wallabies narrowly avoided a deflating loss to Fiji thanks to Harry Wilson's heroics but Joe Schmidt is now sweating on two fresh injury concerns ahead of the British and Irish Lions series.

Captain Wilson hit and spun over to score in the 79th minute at a packed McDonald Jones Stadium to secure a dramatic 21-18 win and make partial amends for the historic 2023 Rugby World Cup loss.

The Lions certainly won't be quaking in their boots after Sunday's scratchy performance and Wallabies coach Schmidt has further headaches with the injuries to Noah Lolesio and David Porecki.

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Noah Lolesio of the Wallabies lies injured.

No.10 Lolesio had already endured a painful season with concussion and a nasty back injury and it was awful to see him depart the Test on a medicab after being hit hard in the second half.

"I think it was whiplash as he hit the ground," Schmidt told Wide World of Sports.

"I'm hopeful that that's going to be something that will resolve itself reasonably quickly. At the same time we're going to make sure that he's OK and that we don't take any risks that we don't need to there."

The first Test against the Lions is in Brisbane on July 19 - and Schmidt was also without Rob Valetini, Will Skelton (both calf) and Jake Gordon (hamstring) against Fiji.

The other playmakers in Schmidt's squad are Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh.

Schmidt will name a revised squad to tackle the Lions on July 11 and he did not rule out the possibility of calling in an experienced head.

Bernard Foley and James O'Connor are both champing at the bit.

But Schmidt was hopeful Lolesio would be OK - and also defended Donaldson's closing performance.

"Noah, the first question he asked me was, did we win? So he was still very much focused on the game and he appeared to be in good shape. So that's the first thing and most important thing.

"We obviously haven't selected our Lions squad... we'll sit down and consider our options but, you know, if you have a look what Ben Donaldson did, I'm not sure that he didn't do exactly what he was needed to do. He put us into the corner.

"He did what was needed to make sure that we were in the game at the end and got the job done."

Hooker Porecki scored the game's opening try before succumbing to a HIA.

It was a sad way for his Test comeback to end.

Porecki's previous international was as Wallabies captain at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

He will now have to clear protocols before the first Lions Test.

Harry Wilson of the Wallabies is presented the Vuvale Bowl by Anthony Albanese and Sitiveni Rabuka.

The other hookers in the Wallabies squad are Billy Pollard and Matt Faessler.

"I know Porky's (Porecki) a little bit down on himself, for getting injured," Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa told WWOS.

"I know that he really wanted to stay out there but I think we're very fortunate that we've got a few days now to go home and relax and hopefully he'll be right for the upcoming Tests.

Nic White of the Wallabies celebrates a try by Harry Wilson.

"Unsure about Noah. We'll probably wait for some medical advice there from that doctor."

The Lions take on the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday.

The Brumbies beat the Lions in their previous tour of Australia in 2013.