Of that quartet, blindside flanker Kaino is the greatest loss and the search still continues for someone to be his regular replacement. Gaps left by the others have been occupied.
The Springboks meanwhile, have been taking hits all across the park.
It happens but had the All Blacks suffered such a collection of injuries, there would have been acres of newsprint and footage devoted to those calamities and the team struggles.
This is just a note about the Springbok casualty list, a reminder of their woes.
It is not a subversive item delivered by someone from the South African Rugby Union or an excuse for what they have delivered in the last two Rugby Championship tests.
Men such as Pierre Spies, Schalk Burger, Chiliboy Ralapelle, Bismarck du Plessis, Siya Kolisi, JP Pietersen, Bjorn Basson, Guthro Steenkaamp, Heinrich Brussouw, Juan Smith, and Coenie Oosthuizen are all in the casualty ward.
That is a fair chunk of talent not available to coach Heyneke Meyer. Several on this trip needed medical clearances for tonight's test while Eben Etzebeth is banned after his stupid head tap in Perth.
Even domestic coaches warned that talented players such as Johan Goosen and Duane Vermeulen were not fit enough after injury, for the rigors of the Rugby Championship.
Injuries are occupational hazards for rugby players but when they come in bunches and to layers of senior players, coaches become very twitchy.
New Zealand has escaped cluster problems in certain positions while South Africa is feeling the pinch in finding enough depth at test level.
Across the Ditch, the Wallabies are finding that task even more difficult as they have shed players in clumps this season.
