Key All Blacks trio to return home after brutal defeat to Boks
The All Blacks rugby team faces a significant setback as three key players, including captain Ardie Savea, are returning home due to injuries sustained during a loss to the Springboks. The team is now looking to regroup for their upcoming Test match in the United States.
Why it matters
The loss of core leadership and talent impacts the team's competitive standing and performance in the ongoing international rugby series.
Injured All Blacks Ardie Savea, Quinn Tupaea and Luke Jacobson will travel home to New Zealand rather than to the fourth Test against the Boks in the United States as head coach Dave Rennie counts the cost of a brutal defeat in Soweto this morning. No.8 and skipper Savea has a dislocated shoulder and midfielder Tupaea an MCL (knee) injury – issues that may keep them from the field for the rest of the year. Flanker Jacobson, who took over as captain after Savea left the field during the <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/06/saveas-injury-adds-to-all-blacks-woes-after-defeat-to-boks/">29-24 loss at FNB Stadium</a>, has an elbow tendon injury.
Also covering this story
7 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Eben Etzebeth roars back into form to help South Africa level All Blacks rugby series
Rugby: Springboks outmuscle All Blacks to win third test, take 2-1 series lead
Ardie Savea OUT of Springboks-All Blacks Test in Baltimore
Dave Rennie's 12-word verdict on the Springbok scrum in Soweto
Boks take ‘moral victory’ in series after overpowering All Blacks in Soweto
All Blacks vs Springboks: Where the defining third test will be won and lost - Liam Napier
Rassie becomes most successful All Black slayer as Boks take series lead
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in