Star second-rower Brodie Retallick will skip the All Blacks' upcoming rugby Test against South Africa due to a family bereavement.
The 26-year-old was rested for Sunday's 36-10 win over Argentina in the hope of arriving in Cape Town fresh, but will now miss the fixture.
Head coach Steve Hansen said in a statement that Retallick would rejoin the squad at a more appropriate time.
In the meantime, the quintet of Vaea Fifita, Ngani Laumape, Waisake Naholo, Luke Romano and Ardie Savea would travel straight home to New Zealand.
They will not be required in South Africa, with Sam Cane, Ryan Crotty, Lima Sopoaga, Liam Squire and Sam Whitelock meeting the squad in Cape Town.
With Retallick unavailable and Romano sent home, Whitelock and Scott Barrett are all but certain to line up in the second row against the Springboks.
Share
