Joe Schmidt doesn't expect to 'knock the Lions over' as Australia complete Test preparations with Fiji win - 'Massively relieved'
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Published 06/07/2025 at 19:28 GMT+1
The first Test of the British & Irish Lions' tour of Australia is fast approaching, and the hosts warmed up with a dramatic late win against Fiji. Wallabies captain Harry Wilson scored the match-winning try in the final minute to avoid a first defeat on home soil to the Pacific Islanders for more than 70 years, leaving head coach Joe Schmidt doubting his side will "knock the Lions over".
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Joe Schmidt tempered any expectations of Australia knocking the British & Irish Lions over after gearing up for the three-Test series with a scrappy win over Fiji.
The Wallabies will face the British & Irish Lions in the opening Test in Brisbane on July 19 and warmed up with a dramatic clash against the visiting Fijians.
Fiji led with a minute left on the clock, but a last-gasp try from Australian captain Harry Wilson pinched a 21-18 win for the hosts, who had squandered a 14-5 half-time lead.
It was the Wallabies’ only warm-up game before taking on the Lions for the first time in under two weeks.
"We didn't play well enough for people to have the expectation that we're going to come bowling into Brisbane and knock the Lions over," said head coach Schmidt.
"But I'm not sure that expectation was there before this game. We're just going to have to build that quiet resolve, inch by inch."
Per the BBC, Fiji were seeking their first win in Australia for more than 70 years and came agonisingly close to achieving that historic feat.
Dave Porecki and Fraser McReight tries had the Wallabies in front at the break, although Salesi Rayasi narrowed the margin with the final play of the half.
The comeback was sprung by a Lekima Tagitagivalu score, before two Caleb Muntz penalties had them leading 18-15 going into the closing stages.
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Staring down the barrel of a second straight defeat to Fiji following their 2023 Rugby World Cup loss, Australia mustered one last attack as Wilson crossed to claim a win that kept Schmidt sweating.
"I am massively relieved, because you want to get a result," Schmidt said.
"But I am disappointed with the performance, and I know the players will be looking for more out of themselves, and that has to happen in a very short space of time.
"In 13 days’ time, we won't be afforded the number of errors that Fiji gave us.
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"Fiji were superb. Some of the players we knew would be elusive and quick and powerful, and they turned up and were all those things."
A further concern for Schmidt was the sight of fly-half Noah Lolesio being stretchered off after sustaining a head injury.
Schmidt was optimistic that the Brumbies star would not be out for long and a subsequent Wallabies statement said he had been discharged from hospital and "cleared of significant damage."
"The first question Noah asked me was 'did we win?' He was still very much focused on the game and he appeared to be in good shape. That's the most important thing," Schmidt said.
"It was whiplash, and his head hit the ground. I'm hopeful it will be something that resolves itself reasonably quickly. But we won't take any risks that we don't need to."
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