New Zealand captain Ardie Savea has been ruled out of the fourth Test against South Africa due to a shoulder injury sustained during the third Test in Johannesburg. Savea left the field just thirty minutes into the match after experiencing severe pain following a tackle by Jasper Wiese. Despite scoring twice early in the game, the All Blacks suffered a narrow 29-24 defeat.

Head coach Dave Rennie confirmed the injury, stating, "Yes, [it’s a] shoulder injury. Not sure if it’s dislocated, but he certainly won’t be travelling to the States." This absence represents a significant challenge for the All Blacks, who aim to draw the series with a victory in Baltimore next Saturday.

Rennie acknowledged Savea's impact, saying, "Oh, yeah, I think he [Savea] was massive, wasn’t he?" In his absence, Wallace Sititi performed well after coming on as a replacement.

The team will also need to adjust due to further injuries:

• Luke Jacobson is dealing with an elbow issue.
• Quinn Tupaea is set to miss the match with a knee injury, with Rennie suggesting possible MCL damage.

The fourth Test, part of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, will take place at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, on Saturday evening. On the Springboks' side, Cheslin Kolbe will miss the match due to a broken jaw, but Grant Williams, Damian Willemse, and Canan Moodie are back in contention.