Mitchell could be out of RWC

Nelson - Australian winger Drew Mitchell could be out of the World Cup after suffering an apparent hamstring injury in the game against Russia, coach Robbie Deans said on Saturday.

Mitchell pulled up sharply during the second half of Australia's 68-22 win, becoming the latest in Australia's long list of injury victims. Coach Robbie Deans feared he could now miss the rest of the tournament.

"That's what it appears from a distance. I haven't had an opportunity to talk to him nor the medical staff but yeah, it doesn't look great," said Deans.

The Wallabies' stocks of able-bodied backs are so low that backrower Radike Samo played on the wing against Russia, and when Mitchell went off he was replaced by scrum-half Nick Phipps.

Australia are through to the quarter-finals where they will face South Africa if Ireland beat Italy in the final Pool C match on Sunday. An Italy win would pit Australia against Wales.

"We got what we wanted out of it (the win), apart from picking up an injury obviously which looks bad," Deans said.