New Zealand captain Ardie Savea is set to miss the rest of the year after undergoing surgery on a dislocated shoulder.
Savea suffered the injury in the third Test against South Africa and appears certain to miss the All Blacks’ Nations Championship games against Scotland, Wales and England in November.
Fellow back rower Luke Jacobson also faces a spell on the sidelines of more than four months after surgery on an elbow tendon injury, with wing Caleb Clarke another to miss the northern tour.
Centres Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor are doubts for the start of November with knee and shoulder injuries respectively.
New Zealand were beaten 3-1 by the Springboks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series having taken the first Test at Ellis Park.
They won all three of their Nations Championship games in July in their first campaign under Dave Rennie, and next take on Australia in a two-match home and away Bledisloe Cup series in October.
