‘We’re disappointed’: Eddie Jones comments on Len Ikitau’s devastating injury
The Wallabies were dealt a cruel blow during their thrilling loss to Argentina with centre Len Ikitau leaving CommBank Stadium to undergo scans on a devasting injury.
Ikitau scored the Wallabies’ opening try of the night in just the fifth minute, but he left the field shortly after with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.
According to The Roar, a Wallabies spokesman has since revealed that Ikitau will miss Australia’s two Bledisloe Cup matches with New Zealand. The 24-year-old has reportedly fractured his scapula and will miss six to eight weeks.
After receiving a clever pop pass from world-class midfielder Samu Kerevi, Ikitau didn’t hesitate as he tucked the ball under his left arm with the try line in sight.
But standing in the centre’s way was Los Pumas fullback Emiliano Boffelli.
Boffelli got down low and did everything he could to stop the Wallaby – simply, it was a textbook tackle attempt – but Ikitau wasn’t going to be denied.
Ikitau met the Argentine fullback with both fury and intent, and somehow managed to stay in the field of play. There was just a matter of millimetres in it.
But after the jubilation of the score, and as the rugby war continued to rage on, Ikitau was clearly well below 100 per cent.
First points on the board thanks to Len Ikitau 💪
📺 @StanSportAU @channel9 @9gem#AUSvARG #Wallabies pic.twitter.com/uQxuediP89
— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 15, 2023
The 24-year-old wasn’t moving his right arm, and ended up leaving the field in the 17th minute with a grimace on his face.
Replacement Carter Gordon – who hasn’t played inside centre at Super Rugby Pacific level – ended up playing more than an hour at No. 12 as Samu Kerevi shifted out one position.
During the match, this reporter was told that Ikitau would be leaving the stadium to receive scans.
“It also created an opportunity for us to learn a little bit more about ourselves,” coach Eddie Jones told reporters.
“It’s a great opportunity for Carter to play 12, and at some stage in his career, he’s going to play 12.
“We’re disappointed Lenny’s injured, he’ll have all the scans that need to be had but certainly didn’t look like a good sort of an injury but we’ll wait and see.”
The backline reshuffled proved somewhat problematic for the Wallabies, with Quade Cooper, Carter Gordon and Samu Kerevi struggling to develop some matchday chemistry between them.
Gordon made a couple of poor reads in defence, but for the most part, the rising star was a shining light for the Wallabies once again.
The Wallabies may have fallen to their second consecutive loss to start the year, but coach Jones is full of confidence ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks later this month.
“In the first two games we scored two super tries early in the game and we move the ball with fluency and quickly, which is how we want to play,” he added.
“But we’re not able to sustain that at the moment. I could give you a fantastic, plausible reason but you’re not going to believe it so I’m not going to give it to you.
“Whilst it seems like it’s doom and gloom at the moment, it’s not.
“(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.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
2 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
2 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
2 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
2 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to comments