Nine All Blacks sent home with immediate effect ahead of Springboks finale

Dave Rennie has trimmed his touring party to 36 players following Saturday’s bruising 29-24 defeat at FNB Stadium, which left South Africa with an unassailable 2-1 lead in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

Captain Ardie Savea, Quinn Tupaea and Luke Jacobson are among those heading home after all three picked up injuries during the Soweto clash.

Six further members of the wider touring squad — Josh Jacomb, Siale Lauaki, Saula Ma’u, Cortez Ratima, Bradley Slater and Ofa Tu’ungafasi — will also return to New Zealand. Ratima is currently dealing with a knee injury.

Savea is comfortably the biggest loss ahead of Saturday’s series finale at M&T Bank Stadium.

The All Blacks skipper dislocated his shoulder during the first half against South Africa, bringing a premature end to an outstanding individual performance in which he scored both of New Zealand’s opening tries.

Rennie subsequently confirmed that Savea would miss the Baltimore Test.

Tupaea also suffered a knee injury during the defeat, while Jacobson sustained an elbow tendon problem.

The loss of Savea and Jacobson leaves New Zealand particularly stretched in the back row, with Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai and Ethan Blackadder among Rennie’s remaining options.

The players leaving the touring group are:

Ardie Savea — shoulder injury
Quinn Tupaea — knee injury
Luke Jacobson — elbow injury
Cortez Ratima — knee injury
Josh Jacomb
Siale Lauaki
Saula Ma’u
Bradley Slater
Ofa Tu’ungafasi

The latter six had not featured in the three-Test series against the Springboks.

New Zealand now travel to the United States looking to finish the tour on a high after South Africa secured the series with their victory in Johannesburg.

The All Blacks won the opening Test 33-16 before the Springboks hit back with successive 33-27 and 29-24 victories.

The fourth Test takes place at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, September 12.

Rennie will therefore have to reshuffle his starting XV significantly, with a new captain required alongside changes to his back row and midfield.

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.