BATTERED AND BRUISED: All Blacks need a new skipper, flank and midfielder as 3rd test injury toll hits

The All Blacks didn’t only lose the third Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry test to South Africa, but they boarded the plane to Baltimore knowing they would need to find a new captain, a new flanker, and a new midfielder ahead of the fourth and final test in the USA.

The two teams boarded the same charter jet in the early hours of Sunday morning heading to Washington, where both sides will be based for the fixture, which has almost sold out on American soil.

The All Blacks announced a squad of 36 players on Sunday to head to the US, but already knew that three players were heading back to New Zealand with injuries that will rock their tour group.

The first is captain Ardie Savea, who was massive on Saturday and scored two tries, before going off with a shoulder injury, which seemingly came from a Malcolm Marx clean-out, and who won’t see any more action.

“It’s his shoulder. I’m not sure if it’s dislocated. He certainly won’t be travelling to the States,” said Rennie. “He was massive, wasn’t he. But Wallace [Sititi] came on and played well. We’re certainly not going to use that as an excuse.”

Also out is midfielder Quinn Tupaea, who suffered an MCL knee injury while stand-in captain Luke Jacobson injured a tendon in his elbow, which will require “further investigation on return to New Zealand.”

The loss of Savea and Jacobson in particular are blows, because the latter took over the captaincy when Savea went off. That means the All Blacks will need a new captain for the final clash of the series.

Codie Taylor captained the side at the beginning of the tour while Savea was on leave, but was dropped for the third test, and it is an open question whether he will return or whether coach Dave Rennie will find another captain.

One change that could be made is Ethan Blackadder coming back into the side after some sterling performances in the franchise games, including two tries against the Lions. Blackadder would be an easy call to make, while Peter Lakai, who played on Saturday, could move across to seven.

That would leave Simon Parker the option for blindside flank for the All Blacks and could very well be their loose trio this coming weekend.

Tupaea combined well with Jordie Barrett, but the likelihood is that Rieko Ioane will come back into the side after also impressing in the franchise games.

The All Blacks could also decide to give veteran Richie Mo’unga a run - he joined the tour as injury cover and has only played against the Lions.

There is also an injury to back-up scrumhalf Cortez Ratima, while five other players will return to New Zealand in Josh Jacomb, Siale Lauaki, Saula Ma’u, Bradley Slater and Ofa Tu’ungafasi.

The squad to travel to the US is as follows:

FORWARDS:

Asafo Aumua

Codie Taylor

Samisoni Taukei'aho

Ethan De Groot

Tyrel Lomax

Fletcher Newell

Pasilio Tosi

George Bower

Xavier Numia

Jamie Hannah