NEW ZEALAND CENTRE Quinn Tupaea and loose forward Luke Jacobson have been ruled out of the final Test against South Africa on Saturday with injuries, an official said.
Tupaea injured a knee and Jacobson an elbow tendon during a 29-24 third Test loss in Johannesburg on Saturday, which left the All Blacks trailing 2-1 in the series.
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On Saturday, captain and No.8 Ardie Savea was ruled out of the Test climax in American city Baltimore after dislocating his shoulder during the first half in Johannesburg.
The absence of Savea and Jacobson means head coach Dave Rennie will have to make at least two changes to a back row that was completed by flanker Peter Lakai in the third Test.
New Zealand have also reduced the squad for the final Test to 36 by sending six players home.
They are backs Josh Jacomb and Cortez Ratima and forwards Siale Lauaki, Saula Ma’u, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Bradley Slater. None of them have been involved in the Test series.
South African officials say financial reasons justify taking the series-deciding Test abroad. The national body will reportedly bank more than 100 million rand (€5.39 million) from the game.
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All Blacks Tupaea, Jacobson and Savea to miss last Springboks Test
NEW ZEALAND CENTRE Quinn Tupaea and loose forward Luke Jacobson have been ruled out of the final Test against South Africa on Saturday with injuries, an official said.
Tupaea injured a knee and Jacobson an elbow tendon during a 29-24 third Test loss in Johannesburg on Saturday, which left the All Blacks trailing 2-1 in the series.
On Saturday, captain and No.8 Ardie Savea was ruled out of the Test climax in American city Baltimore after dislocating his shoulder during the first half in Johannesburg.
The absence of Savea and Jacobson means head coach Dave Rennie will have to make at least two changes to a back row that was completed by flanker Peter Lakai in the third Test.
New Zealand have also reduced the squad for the final Test to 36 by sending six players home.
They are backs Josh Jacomb and Cortez Ratima and forwards Siale Lauaki, Saula Ma’u, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Bradley Slater. None of them have been involved in the Test series.
South African officials say financial reasons justify taking the series-deciding Test abroad. The national body will reportedly bank more than 100 million rand (€5.39 million) from the game.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
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