All Blacks captain Ardie Savea is set to undergo surgery on the shoulder injury he suffered against the Springboks, adding to a growing injury list.
Savea dislocated his shoulder during the third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in South Africa and returned home before the fourth Test in Baltimore. His recovery time will only become clear after surgery, but he is unlikely to return before the start of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season.
It is not yet known where Savea will play next season after the demise of Moana Pasifika, with the loose forward yet to announce his club future.
Savea is not the only All Blacks forward facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
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Luke Jacobson, who has emerged as a regular starter under new coach Dave Rennie, has already undergone surgery for an elbow tendon injury and is expected to be out for around five months. Caleb Clarke is also set to miss around five months after rupturing a shoulder tendon.
There are further concerns in the backline, with experienced midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown still four to six weeks away from a return as he recovers from an MCL injury. His knee problem will rule him out of both Bledisloe Cup Tests against Australia on 10 and 17 October.
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Billy Proctor will also miss those two Tests after fracturing his shoulder blade early during the All Blacks’ South African tour.
The centre is on a similar recovery timeline to Lienert-Brown, leaving the All Blacks with several key players sidelined as they prepare for the Bledisloe Cup.
The post Ardie to go under the knife appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea is set to undergo surgery on the shoulder injury he suffered against the Springboks, adding to a growing injury list.
The post Ardie to go under the knife appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
