Fresh doubt has been cast over the third and final Bledisloe Cup test in Perth on August 28.
In the wake of New Zealand's return to COVID-19 level 4 lockdown protocols, Western Australia has announced it will implement a new "low risk" measure from Wednesday 4pm (NZ time) requiring all New Zealanders travelling to Perth to quarantine for two weeks.
While the Australians were granted an exemption from the NZ Government to travel to Auckland for the first two tests, it's unclear whether that same concession will be extended to the All Blacks in the opposite direction.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has been unable to confirm whether the game would go ahead as scheduled next weekend.
"We are not sure," McGowan said, when asked about the prospect of the game proceeding as planned.
"Maybe we have to work out some arrangement, or there may be a bubble, or they just have to comply with the rules that exist for everybody else.
"It's a moving situation and it would be disappointing for rugby fans if we are forced to cancel the game, but that is the nature of the world we live in."
The All Blacks were also due to play two Rugby Championship tests against Argentina in Perth, and potentially two more against South Africa.
McGowan believes those would be "unlikely" to go ahead.
"I think it would be unlikely," he says. "It's not our No. 1 priority."
The All Blacks were slated to depart for Perth on Sunday, although with the new lockdown in place and players on family leave, NZ Rugby is still working to ensure that can happen.
"We will be guided by government travel guidelines and any potential border restrictions in Australia while working closely with Sanzaar and Rugby Australia in coming days to understand what the impact is on our plans,’" NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said on Monday.
The All Blacks are currently due to play the Pumas in Perth on September 11 and 18.
Instead of returning home to play South Africa as originally scheduled, they were then expected to take on the world champions twice in the following two weeks to avoid another quarantine, before heading directly to the US and Europe on their annual year-end tour.
On Saturday, the All Black secured the Bledisloe Cup for the 19th consecutive year with a 57-22 pasting at Eden Park.
