All Blacks captain Ardie Savea set to miss rest of year after shoulder surgery

New Zealand's captain Ardie Savea is expected to miss the remainder of the year following shoulder surgery. The injury occurred during the third Test against South Africa and it seems highly likely that Savea will miss the All Blacks' upcoming Nations Championship matches against Scotland, Wales, and England in November. Back rower Luke Jacobson will also be sidelined for more than four months due to an elbow tendon injury, while wing Caleb Clarke is also set to miss the northern tour.

Centres Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor are in doubt for the start of November, with Lienert-Brown suffering a knee injury and Proctor a shoulder issue. New Zealand suffered a 3-1 defeat to South Africa in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, having won all three of their Nations Championship games in July as part of their debut season under coach Dave Rennie. They will next face Australia in a two-match home and away Bledisloe Cup series in October.