Kolbe ruled out with broken jaw as Springboks and All Blacks count injury toll ahead of fourth Test

Cheslin Kolbe will miss the Springboks’ fourth Test against the All Blacks in Baltimore after breaking his jaw during the third Test in Soweto, head coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed to media in Johannesburg. The winger left the field just nine minutes into the contest following a tackle inside the Springboks’ 22 with the All Blacks pressing hard.

The injury is a significant blow for South Africa. Kolbe had been in outstanding form, earning man-of-the-match honours in Cape Town the previous week as the Springboks levelled the series in front of a packed home crowd.

“Cheslin broke his jaw,” Erasmus confirmed, before outlining the broader squad picture. “Damian Willemse will be ready for next, so will Aphelele Fassi. Carlu Sadie, Boan Venter, and Ntuthuko Mchunu will all be staying behind with Cheslin as well as Ben-Jason Dixon, who still has concussion symptoms.”

With Kolbe sidelined, Herschel Jantjies has been called into the travelling party to provide halfback cover, while Grant Williams will also offer wing versatility. “With Cheslin staying home, Herschel is flying with us,” Erasmus said. “Canan Moodie is now getting fit too, and Grant will cover the wing too.”

Erasmus also reflected on his team selection in Soweto, admitting he had doubts at the interval about the workload he had placed on his players. “We have a long-term goal that we want to win the World Cup like all teams want to do, but I felt this game, minutes-wise it was very important. At half-time, I worried that we got it wrong because the guys were breathing heavily, but we had a good bench.”

The All Blacks were not spared either. Captain Ardie Savea will not travel to the United States after sustaining a shoulder injury, with All Blacks coach Scott Robertson confirming the extent of the problem post-match. “Yes, shoulder injury. Not sure if it’s dislocated, but he certainly won’t be travelling to the States,” Robertson said, adding that replacement Wallace Sititi performed well after coming on.

Midfielder Quinn Tupaea also departed with what Robertson described as a possible MCL injury, though his availability for Baltimore remains unclear. “I’m not sure of the severity and whether that’ll affect him going to America or not,” Robertson said.

Both squads now head into the fourth and final Test carrying notable absences, raising the stakes further in what has already been a fiercely contested series.