We run through some key players that went down in action during the June Internationals for Southern Hemisphere nations, that might impact some team’s Super Rugby chances.

South Africa and Australia are severely hit but things look a lot better for the New Zealand Franchises.

It is fast heading to crunch time in Super Rugby, with Round 17 on this weekend. The South African sides are of course excluded from Round 17 due to the fact that they started a week earlier than their Antipodian counterparts.

Including Round 17, there are only 3 weeks of the open Rounds left, before the weekend of Play-Off games ensue for the Top 6 Super Rugby sides and the margins for error is so small, specially for those Franchises still on the fringes of making the Play-Off’s.

After the 2 Play-Off games, featuring No 3 against No 6 and No 4 against No 5, there is one weekend of Semi-Finals (2 games) and a week later the Final.

Australia:

The biggest loss was that of inform hooker Stephen Moore, cruelly cut down when leading his country for the first time, and the Brumbies rake will be missed in the closing weeks.

With a blown anterior cruciate ligament, Moore will miss nine months of rugby.

The likes of Matt Toomua and Sam Carter are also out, but the men from Canberra have some returning cavalry in the likes of Christian Lealiifano.

However with clouds of doubt over Joe Tomane and Josh Mann-Rea, Stephen Larkham might be tempted to pull on a tracksuit himself in the near future.

Their rivals in New South Wales are in a stronger position, with Tatafu Polota-Nau making a welcome return in the series against France.

The Reds lost Will Genia to ankle surgery, who joins long time team-mate Quade Cooper in the sidelines for the remainder of the season.

The Force are without Luke Morahan, Chris Alcock and Kyle Godwin, but welcome back two seniors in Hugh McMeniman and Alby Mathewson for their final push for a top six berth.

New Zealand:

The news of Richie McCaw, not for the first time, played with a serious injury against England (rib) has resulted in the most capped All Black of all time to be scratched from Super Rugby.

He may return if the Crusaders make the finals.

The return of Kieran Read from concussion issues is a welcome sight for all, even if his team-mate Israel Dagg will be in doubt over the coming weeks with knee concerns.

The Chiefs lost Sam Cane who was ruled out for the rest of the season with a fractured knee, but the return from injury of Aaron Cruden was a big plus – as was Steve Hansen’s insistence to select him to start for all three Tests.

Otherwise the news has been positive across the board for New Zealand teams, with other players, such as Francis Saili and Robbie Fruean, making their returns from injury.

South Africa:

With the exception of the Brumbies recent toll, the South Africans collectively have the biggest casualty ward of all the three SANZAR powers.

Most recently Flip van der Merwe was ruled out for the rest of 2014 with a knee injury sidelining the big lock.

A similar injury is causing havoc to Cheetahs playmaker Johan Goosen, who played just over a minute throughout the entire June campaign.

Already without Jean de Villiers, the Stormers are now without Damian de Allende, even though Eben Etzebeth continues to strong progress on his ankle injury.

The Sharks are sweating on a minor injury to Tendai Mtawarira, who has a bulging disc in his neck, but at this stage the Beast will not join other long term casualties in Durban.

Pieter-Steph du Toit and Pat Lambie will not feature again for Jake White’s team this season.

All up just under twenty 2013 Springboks are currently out injured, while all overseas based South African Test players have re-joined their clubs in Europe with the IRB international selection window now closed.