Ardie Savea Ruled Out of Fourth Test With Shoulder Injury
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea will miss the series-deciding fourth Test against South Africa in Baltimore due to a shoulder injury sustained in Johannesburg.
Ardie Savea has been ruled out of the fourth Test against South Africa with a shoulder injury, ending any chance he plays a part in the series decider in Baltimore next Saturday.
The All Blacks captain went off just half an hour into the third Test in Johannesburg after coming up in serious pain from a Jasper Wiese clearout. He was pictured afterwards with his arm in a sling, having struggled to lift it. New Zealand lost the match 29-24, even though Savea had scored twice in an excellent start.
Dave Rennie confirmed the diagnosis.
"Yes, [it's a] shoulder injury," Rennie said. "Not sure if it's dislocated, but he certainly won't be travelling to the States."
Rennie added:
The back row takes another hit beyond Savea. Flanker Luke Jacobson suffered an elbow injury in the same Test, and outside centre Quinn Tupaea is also set to miss Baltimore with a knee problem Rennie suspects could involve MCL damage, pending further scans.
The defeat in Johannesburg put South Africa 2-1 up in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, after the sides had gone into that match level at 1-1. New Zealand now need victory at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, to draw the series.
South Africa will be without wing Cheslin Kolbe, who has broken his jaw.
Losing Savea, with doubts also hanging over Jacobson and Tupaea, may push Sititi into the number eight jersey for the decider, leaving Rennie to settle a reshuffled back row for the match that closes out the rivalry.
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