Australia dealt major Lions sucker punch as star ruled out of series

Joe Schmidt's Wallabies have been hit by a sucker punch with playmaker Noah Lolesio ruled out of the Lions series.

The 25-year-old was carried off in a neck brace during Australia's 21-18 win over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, cleared by medics that night then readmitted to hospital, in Brisbane, for surgery today.

Lolesio has been Schmidt's go-to man at fly-half after starting 11 of the last 13 Tests under the head coach.

Tom Lynagh, son of Wallabies' legend Michael, and Ben Donaldson are the next cabs off the rank and veteran James O'Connor, who played against the Lions in 2013, is also in the frame.

The Lions face the Brumbies on Wednesday in Canberra with assistant coach Johnny Sexton, urging them to fill the shirt.

Sexton was in the stands, resting for the following Saturday's first Test, when the Lions lost to the ACT franchise in 2013 and the 2001 encounter is remembered for Duncan McRae's brutal assault on Ronan O'Gara.

Sexton said: "Every time you play in the jersey it's remembered. I remember what happened 12 years ago, I remember what happened 24 years ago. These games stick in people's memories despite them not being as important as the Tests."