Len Ikitau fractures shoulder blade, faces battle to be fit for Australia’s Rugby World Cup campaign

Len Ikitau faces a battle to be fit for the Rugby World Cup after fracturing a shoulder blade in Australia’s defeat to Argentina.

Ikitau was injured when scoring a try early in the contest, only to play on for a further 12 minutes before succumbing to the problem.

He was sent for tests, and they confirmed a fracture of his right shoulder blade.

Doctors have informed the centre that he will be sidelined for between six and eight weeks.

“We’re disappointed Lenny’s injured,” Australia head coach Eddie Jones said.

Australia’s first match of the World Cup takes place against Georgia at the Stade de France on September 9.

Prior to that, the focus will be on the two Bledisloe Cup matches with New Zealand – and Jones is hopeful his side can show improvement.

“Whilst it seems like it’s doom and gloom at the moment, it’s not,” Jones said. “(There’s) a fair bit of optimism that we’ll be able to change fairly quickly in the next couple of weeks. If I was the All Blacks I’d look out.

“At the moment, it seems like we’re miles away from where we need to be. But all this is going to make us harder and more hungry to get it right.

“We’re a team that needs to change. We know that. And that’s the reason I’m here in the job.”

After the clash with Georgia, Australia face Fiji (September 17), Wales (September 24) and Portugal (October 1) in Pool C.