Caleb Clarke has been forced to cut short his South Africa tour after scans confirmed a ruptured tendon in his shoulder, sustained during Tuesday's match against the Sharks. The winger will require surgery, with a return-to-play timeline dependent on the outcome of the procedure.
Clarke is the third All Black to leave the tour early. Hooker George Bell departed before the tour began with a calf injury, replaced by Bradley Slater, while centre Billy Proctor suffered a fractured shoulder blade last week. Proctor's absence triggered the recall of Richie Mo'unga, who arrived in South Africa on Friday but is not expected to feature in the first test against the Springboks at Ellis Park on August 22.
The squad's outside back depth is under further pressure with Will Jordan managing a back injury and Damian McKenzie carrying a twisted ankle ahead of Saturday's tour match against the Bulls in Pretoria.
Head coach Dave Rennie has opted against calling in a replacement for Clarke, citing sufficient cover among the current group. Rieko Ioane, named in midfield for Saturday, can cover wing, while Fehi Fineanganofo — who scored a hat-trick against the Sharks — remains an option. Leroy Carter and Josh Moorby are set to start on the wings against the Bulls.