All Blacks suffer triple injury blow after Springboks defeat

New Zealand’s injury problems have deepened after their bruising 29-24 defeat by South Africa, with Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea ruled out of the rest of the Greatest Rivalry Series.

The pair will return home after sustaining injuries in the third Test, with Jacobson suffering an elbow tendon problem and Tupaea picking up a knee injury.

They join captain Ardie Savea on the sidelines after the influential forward was forced off during the match with a shoulder injury.

The loss of all three players is a significant setback for the All Blacks, as each had started the opening three Tests of the series. New Zealand confirmed Jacobson and Tupaea’s departures on Sunday, following the announcement that Savea would also be unavailable.

The latest defeat came in a tightly contested match against the Springboks, who held on to win 29-24. It was another physically demanding meeting between the two sides in a series regarded as one of the most fiercely contested rivalries in international rugby.

New Zealand’s next match is scheduled for Saturday in Baltimore, with kick-off at 23:10.

The All Blacks squad is:

Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, George Bower, Xavier Numia, Jamie Hannah, Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Patrick Tuipulotu, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa’i, Simon Parker, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Ethan Blackadder, Semisi Ta’eiloa.

Backs: Cam Roigard, Kyle Preston, Noah Hotham, Beauden Barrett, Ruben Love, Richie Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Fehi Fineanganofo, Leroy Carter, Emoni Narawa, Rieko Ioane, Josh Moorby, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie.