Second-row Brodie Retallick is a significant injury concern for the All Blacks ahead of the World Cup after Steve Hansen confirmed that he had suffered a dislocated shoulder.
The lock left the field in agony after being cleaned out of a ruck by South African replacement RG Snyman in the second half of their Rugby Championship encounter.
“He has dislocated his shoulder and is on the way to hospital,” head coach Hansen told reporters following their clash in Wellington.
Retallick has endured an injury-hit year having missed two months of the Super Rugby campaign and the end of last season’s Rugby Championship.
Despite having several options in the engine room, including Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock and Patrick Tuipulotu, should the 28-year-old be ruled out of the global tournament in Japan it would be a huge blow for New Zealand.
