The Junior Boks suffered a huge blow on Tuesday with news that three players were ruled out for their vital IRB World Championship Pool C clash with New Zealand this coming Friday.

Rohan Janse van Rensburg, strong running inside centre Andre Esterhuizen and flanker Jaques Vermeulen will play no part in Friday’s clash.

For Van Rensburg, who came on as a second half replacement against Scotland in the JWC opener, his injury is the worst of the lot with the flanker set to return home after suffering an ankle injury in the match. He will subsequently be replaced by Dulhan van der Merwe who is an SA Sevens contracted player.

Esterhuizen was ruled out of action for the next couple of days after receiving a blow to the head in the second half against the Scots and will not be considered for the game against the Kiwi’s while Vermeulen also suffered an ankle injury and has been ruled out of Friday’s match.

Junior Springboks head coach Dawie Theron described the three injuries as a big blow for his side.

“We all know how vital the match against New Zealand is and to have three players ruled out of action is a massive blow for us,” Theron said on Tuesday.