The All Blacks have confirmed three players will return to New Zealand and take no further part in the Tri Nations tournament.
On Monday, prop Ofa Tuungafasi, flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi and midfielder Peter Umaga-Jensen will all return home to begin their two week quarantine.
Tuungafasi was due to play no further part in the tournament after he was suspended for three weeks for a dangerous tackle during the All Blacks' 24-22 defeat against the Wallabies, while Kirifi and Umaga-Jensen, were initially called in as injury cover and haven't made their test debuts.
There had been indications that coach Ian Foster was contemplating sending some senior players home, but Saturday's loss to Argentina may have changed those plans.
"Because of the unique challenges of the tournament, with a number of test matches over consecutive weeks and the ever-changing world of COVID-19 quarantining, we brought a bigger squad than normal to Australia," says Foster.
"But we had always intended to send a few players back at this stage of the tournament, based on whether or not we had injuries.
"The advantage for the three players heading home is that they will get an extra two weeks of pre-season training and return to their Super Rugby clubs early.
"It also means we aren't compromising our own preparation in the build-up for what will be a very important final test of the year for us."
The All Blacks have one test remaining on the Tri Nations schedule, against Argentina in Newcastle on November 28.
Foster's side is currently top of the Tri Nations standings, with six points, but Argentina and Australia both have a game in hand.
