Sport

Injury outlook positive for Wallabies ahead of Lions opener: coach

Date: Jul 16, 2025

Australia line-out coach Geoff Parling is optimistic the Wallabies will be at full strength for Saturday's series-opening test against the British & Irish Lions even as several players scramble to prove their fitness.

Head coach Joe Schmidt will name his match-day squad for the Lang Park opener on Thursday with question marks still hanging over a number of players.

Hooker Dave Porecki suffered concussion from the Fiji test while scrumhalf Jake Gordon missed the match with a hamstring issue.

Lock Will Skelton declared himself fit and ready on Tuesday after missing the Fiji test with a calf complaint, and Parling was optimistic that loose forward Rob Valetini, who also missed the warmup with a calf strain, would be available.

"He's trained today, he's a quality player, like everybody knows. We've very hopeful he'll be available for selection," Parling told reporters.

"There was (injury concerns) at first but lads are training now.

"I think the boys seem to be progressing well .... Hopefully we'll have a full bill of health."

Former England lock Parling was a member of the 2013 Lions squad coached by Warren Gatland which claimed a 2-1 series win over the Wallabies but is now plotting the downfall of Andy Farrell's side.

While noting the Lions' line-out was shaky in their first couple of matches against Australia's provincial sides, he said it had improved over the course of the tour and expected it to be on-point against the Wallabies after a full week's training.

After being part of a winning Lions squad, Parling said he had shared insights into the tourists' mindset with the Wallabies' players during a previous camp -- but played down its importance in test week.

"In any of these big games, it's still the same game," said the 41-year-old.

"The circus around it is bigger. The moments in every game matter a little bit more.

"But that's the case the higher the level you go."

--Reuters--

Comments

comments powered by Disqus

Web Content Viewer (JSR 286)

Actions
Loading...
Complementary Content
CLOSE

Your Name:*

Your Email:*

Your Message:*

Enter Captcha:*