Israel Dagg is set to join the All Blacks' burgeoning casualty ward, with coach Steve Hansen confirming on Thursday that the stalwart winger would need time away from the game.
The 29-year-old injured his knee for the Crusaders in early March and required an operation, only returning to the field in late May.
He went on to play all three British and Irish Lions Tests, as well as a protagonist's role in the Crusaders' Super Rugby triumph, but was rested from the All Blacks' two Bledisloe Cup Tests against Australia.
Characterising his knee niggle as a case of "old man syndrome" last week, Dagg went on to play just fewer than 50 minutes in Saturday's 39-22 win over Argentina.
But the issue appears more serious than Dagg intimated.
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Hansen has not selected the 66-Test ace for this weekend's clash with South Africa, and told reporters Dagg's injury prospects were poor.
But the exact time frame of his recovery remained unclear.
"We're getting more and more information on that and it doesn't look great at this stage. It looks like he's going to need some time away," Hansen said.
