Prop Nepo Laulala will arrive in Australia on Wednesday, as the All Blacks brace to lose another front-rower from their next Tri Nations game against Argentina.
Ofa Tuungafasi is facing a judicial hearing for the tackle that saw him sent off during last week's 24-22 loss to Australia.
He's expecting a long suspension, after Australian flanker Lachy Swinton copped a four-week ban for an almost identical tackle on All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock.
"There's been a lot of work done behind the scenes on Ofa's case," says All Blacks assistant coach John Plumtree. "Hopefully for us, they'll some of that and see it positively."
Both were red-carded during the Brisbane encounter, leaving their teams short-handed for most of the encounter.
Laulala played in the second Bledisloe Cup game at Auckland, after withdrawing from the series opener the previous week, but remained home for the arrival of his child, when the team left for Australia.
His return to camp will be welcomed by the All Blacks, who will also have Moody available, after overcoming concussion symptoms from the Auckland clash.
More to come
