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All Blacks captain Ardie Savea ruled out of fourth Test against South Africa
New Zealand captain Ardie Savea has been ruled out of the fourth Test against South Africa with a shoulder injury.
Savea was forced off just half-an-hour in to the third Test in Johannesburg after coming up in serious pain following a clearout from Jasper Wiese.
The No 8 struggled to hold his right arm up and was pictured in a sling after a 29-24 defeat.
Savea had scored twice in an excellent start to the game, and his absence is a major blow to Dave Rennie as the All Blacks seek to draw the series with victory in Baltimore next Saturday.
“Yes, [it’s a] shoulder injury,” Rennie confirmed. “Not sure if it’s dislocated, but he certainly won’t be travelling to the States.
“Oh, yeah, I think he [Savea] was massive, wasn’t he? But you know, Wallace Sititi came on and played well.”
Outside centre Quinn Tupaea is also a doubt for that game with a knee injury. Rennie suggested that the Chiefs midfielder could have MCL damage, though will require further investigation.
The two sides conclude their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry itinerary with the fourth Test at M&T Bank Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, on Saturday evening.
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