Flanker Shannon Frizell will remain unavailable for the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup pool match against Namibia, as he continues to battle a hamstring injury.
After starting the year as one of his team's best, claiming the contentious No.6 jersey as his own, Frizell suffered what coach Ian Foster described as a hamstring 'tweak', before the team departed for Europe to complete their preparations for the World Cup.
Foster initially stated Frizell would miss the opening match of the World Cup, but that will now extend at least into a second week.
To make matters worse, the All Blacks have also lost captain Sam Cane to a back injury during their captain's run and midfielder Jordie Barrett during the week.
Prop Tyrel Lomax was also missing, after he required 30 stitches from the loss to South Africa at Twickenham, and will also likely miss Namibia next weekend.
Winger Emoni Narawa was ruled out of the tournament altogether earlier in the week, after a recurrence of a back injury suffered against Argentina earlier this year.
Brodie Retallick was supposed to be unavailable to face France, but was rushed onto the bench in an emergency, after Cane's withdrawal, and played 15 minutes, despite limited preparation.
Updating his side's injuries after the loss to France, Foster has given mixed news over who would be able to face Namibia, as his side lick their wounds from a chastening defeat to their hosts.
"Shannon, the answer will be no," said Foster. "Obviously Retallick, the answer will be a yes.
"Tyrel, the answer will be no. That cut is healing really well, we're delighted with it.
"It's more than a cut on the skin, it's actually cut through the muscle.
"Jordie is getting better every single day. We'll make that decision as we go along.
"The fact we've got a bye after Namibia means, if he is right, he could be available. Then we've got another period of time to get him right.
"His is going to be a bit of ongoing management, so it's just going to be a matter of his progress over the next two days."
As a result, Ethan Blackadder will arrive in France on Monday, backing up the forwards as a direct replacement for Narawa.
After facing Namibia at Toulouse, the All Blacks have a two-week break on their schedule, before a must-win clash against Italy on September 30 (NZ time).
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