In another major setback to hit the All Blacks as they prepared to leave New Zealand en route to South Africa, prop Ethan de Groot has withdrawn from the touring side and will miss both tests against the Springboks.
De Groot was ruled out after failing to recover from a neck injury that ruled him out of the second test against Argentina.
George Bower has been called in as a replacement for the prop but the starting spot is likely to go to either 24-year old 140kg prop Tamaiti Williams, who started the last test against Argentina, or 62-cap Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who was on the bench.
The latest blow comes after a tough week for coach Scott Robertson, who had to announce a day earlier that longtime friend and assistant coach Leon MacDonald would leave the coaching group with immediate effect because of “coaching differences”.
Add to that the injuries to lock Patrick Tuipolotu, who has a calf injury sustained in the second test against England, and utility back Stephen Perofeta (calf) and the All Blacks will be heading to SA keen to focus just on rugby.
The All Blacks arrive over the weekend and begin their preparations for the tests in Johannesburg on August 31 and Cape Town a week later.