Wallabies Lack Confidence After Narrow Fiji Win Ahead Lions Series

Australia's rugby team, the Wallabies, narrowly defeated Fiji 21-18 in their only warm-up Test before facing the British and Irish Lions, a result that has left head coach Joe Schmidt cautious about their chances. Schmidt expressed a lack of confidence, emphasizing instead a 'quiet resolve' as the team prepares for the challenging three-match series against the Lions, noting that the team's performance was error-prone and lacked the quality needed to be considered favorites. Fiji dominated much of the match, nearly causing a historic upset, and the Wallabies were fortunate to secure a late try from captain Harry Wilson. Injury concerns have arisen with key players Noah Lolesio and Dave Porecki suffering concussions, potentially affecting the lineup for the series opener. Schmidt highlighted areas for improvement, including skill execution and set-piece effectiveness, acknowledging the limited preparation time with just five training sessions together after six months apart. Despite the shaky performance and injury setbacks, the Wallabies aim to build momentum and earn the support of fans throughout the Lions series.