Will Skelton could yet feature for the Wallabies in South Africa, but in worrying news, Tom Lynagh – the rising flyhalf, who was thrown in the deep end against the Lions and looked comfortable under a world of pressure – is expected to be ruled out of the tour.
The incident was left unpunished, with officials failing to spot the reckless moment in the 32nd minute. Sheehan was later cited by a World Rugby commissioner.
Despite slotting a penalty moments later to lead the Wallabies to an 8-0 lead, Lynagh was forced to undertake a Head Injury Assessment. He didn’t return after failing his HIA category one test.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt later admitted team officials didn’t see the foul play immediately, but shied away from laying the blame at Sheehan’s feet.
“I haven’t really had a good look at it,” said Schmidt. “I’ve got massive respect for Dan. There’s a few things like that that will happen in a really physical contest.”
He added: “For us with Tom, he is still a young kid and we’ll try to look after him and make sure that he’s fully fit on the back of getting that knock.
“But I had a good chat to him after the game and he’s pretty resilient.”
Tom Lynagh (R) is unlikely to join his Queensland teammate and Wallabies captain Harry Wilson (L) in South Africa following his latest head knock against the Lions in Sydney. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Worryingly, the concussion was Lynagh’s third this season.
It’s believed the 22-year-old also failed a fourth HIA category one test earlier in this year Super Rugby’s Pacific competition but was later cleared of suffering a concussion in later tests.
The latest concussion, however, will likely see Lynagh spend some time on the sidelines, with the playmaker expected to get an independent assessment from a neurophysiologist before commencing a prolonged rehabilitation and return to play protocol.
It means Lynagh will all but certainly be ruled out of the back-to-back Tests in South Africa, with the home Tests against Argentina in early September a possibility should the flyhalf respond well over the coming weeks.
With Noah Lolesio sidelined for the remainder of the year, Lynagh’s injury setback will likely see Brumbies recruit Tane Edmed, who was forced off minutes into his debut against Ireland last November, return to the national set up.
It’s believed Leicester-bound James O’Connor, who was called up following Lolesio’s injury but unused during the Lions series, has been sounded out as to his availability for The Rugby Championship.
The injury setback will likely see Ben Donaldson thrust into the No.10 jersey after coming off the bench regularly since debuting in 2022.
Tane Edmed is poised to return to the national team following Tom Lynagh’s concussion. (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Elsewhere, halfback Jake Gordon remains highly unlikely to feature against the Springboks. It comes after The Roar revealed that the 31-year-old had tweaked his hamstring during training on Thursday.
The setback means Nic White, who was excellent in the No.9 jersey against the Lions in what was due to be his last Test, is set to shelve his retirement plans for now. Brumbies halfback Ryan Lonergan is firming to be the third halfback in the squad.
In better news, Skelton, the 33-year-old second-row, who was central to the Wallabies turning the series around against the Lions, could do a U-turn on his plans to leave ahead of the TRC by staying with Schmidt’s men for the Tests against the Springboks.
Skelton was set to leave following the Lions series, but with the Wallabies riddled by injuries over the past month, including to Allan Alaalatoa and Rob Valetini, it’s understood Rugby Australia officials were desperate to extend the lock’s return to the national set up.
Will Skelton was influential during the Wallabies’ third Test win over the Lions in Sydney. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Ahead of the third Test in Sydney, Schmidt, who described Skelton as a “behemoth”, said he planned on discussing the lock’s availability for the Rugby Championship on Sunday.
“We’ve had those [discussions], but they’re probably just in their early stages, and those conversations will become a bit clearer probably post-Saturday,” Schmidt said.
“I’ll be catching up with Will on Sunday, and we’ll confirm a bit of a map forward from there. But he brings a confidence of having the experience of winning things, and he brings a confidence that’s contagious a little bit.
“The guys around him get confidence from playing alongside Will.”
Schmidt will name his TRC squad later this week, before the Wallabies fly to South Africa on Friday.
