Kefu could miss World Cup

Australia’s World Cup hopes could be dealt a severe blow with vice-captain Toutai Kefu a doubt because of a shoulder injury, according to media reports.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph claims the injury Kefu suffered to his left shoulder in the Tri-Nations loss to New Zealand a fortnight ago is feared to be more serious than was at first thought.

Kefu had been instructed to avoid contact training for a month, but the worry now is that he is still in severe pain.

The hard-driving number eight, seen as fundamental to the Wallabies’ defence of the World Cup, will consult a specialist on Monday, three days before the 30-man Australian squad is to be named.

“I’m starting to worry now because that could be it for me,” Kefu told the Telegraph.

“I’ve got to see the specialist and take it from there. The worst case scenario is a shoulder reconstruction. The best case scenario is to have a scope and let it heal over the next six weeks.”

Australia kick off their World Cup campaign against Argentina on October 10.