New Zealand Rugby has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n
Key midfielder Quinn Tupaea, who suffered an MCL knee injury at FNB Stadium, may also be unavailable.<\/p>\n
Given the severity of his injury, Savea is likely to miss the rest of the Test year which includes the Nations Championship finale in the United Kingdom in November.<\/p>\n
Ethan Blackadder, who scored a try in an excellent performance in the All Blacks\u2019 fourth Test defeat of the series to the Boks <\/a>in Baltimore at the weekend, is a good chance to wear the No.7 jersey in the first Test against Australia.<\/p>\n Likewise, Peter Lakai, another good performer in the Test and throughout the series, will be favourite to start in Savea\u2019s regular position of No.8.<\/p>\n The selectors have big decisions to make about Tupaea\u2019s potential replacement after centre Anton Lienert-Brown left the field in Baltimore with a leg injury late in the first half. <\/p>\n Quinn Tupaea is tackled in the All Blacks’ third Test defeat to the Boks in Soweto. (Source: Photosport)<\/p>\n Lienert-Brown was slightly off the pace during his time on the pitch and was replaced by Rieko Ioane, who may be the selectors\u2019 best option for the No.13 jersey.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, wing Caleb Clarke, who injured a shoulder during the Greatest Rivalry series, will miss the rest of the year after undergoing surgery.<\/p>\n Loose forward Anton Segner (ankle), halfback Cortez Ratima (knee), prop Ollie Norris (knee), and midfielder Billy Proctor (shoulder) also left the South Africa tour early due to injury.<\/p>\n Head coach Dave Rennie has spoken about the value of the tour<\/a> for the development of his players and unity of the squad but there is little doubt the series took a toll.<\/p>\n![\"Quinn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/quinn-tupaea-is-tackled-in-the-all-blacks-third-test-defeat-7X6FONVWZVHSJAVL5PVJOQPVVQ.jpg\")
<\/p>\n