New Zealand have been dealt a significant injury blow ahead of Saturday's series decider against the Springboks in Baltimore, with Quinn Tupaea, Luke Jacobson and Ardie Savea all ruled out.
Tupaea sustained a knee injury and Jacobson damaged an elbow tendon during the 29-24 third test defeat in Johannesburg, which left the All Blacks trailing 2-1 in the series. Savea had already been confirmed unavailable after dislocating his shoulder during the first half of that match.
The loss of both Savea and Jacobson leaves Dave Rennie with at least two forced changes to his back row, which was completed by Peter Lakai at flanker in the third test.
New Zealand have also trimmed their travelling squad to 36, sending home six players who were not involved in the series: backs Josh Jacomb and Cortez Ratima, and forwards Siale Lauaki, Saula Ma'u, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Bradley Slater.
SA Rugby has defended the decision to stage the series-deciding test in Baltimore on financial grounds, with the governing body set to bank in excess of R100 million ($6.25 million) from the game.