New Zealand arrive in Baltimore for Saturday's Rugby Championship series decider against the Springboks without three key players after injuries sustained in their 29-24 third test defeat in Johannesburg.
Centre Quinn Tupaea (knee) and loose forward Luke Jacobson (elbow tendon) join captain Ardie Savea — who dislocated his shoulder in the first half at Ellis Park — on the injury list. Savea's absence was confirmed immediately after the Johannesburg test; the Tupaea and Jacobson rulings were confirmed this week.
The loss of Savea and Jacobson leaves coach Dave Rennie with at least two enforced changes to his back row, with flanker Peter Lakai the only member of the third-test loose trio available. New Zealand have also trimmed their touring squad to 36, releasing backs Josh Jacomb and Cortez Ratima and forwards Siale Lauaki, Saula Ma'u, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Bradley Slater — none of whom featured in the series.
The Springboks lead the four-test series 2-1. SA Rugby is reported to stand to earn in excess of R100 million ($6.25 million) from staging the decider in Baltimore, which officials have cited as the financial justification for taking a series-deciding home test offshore.