Veteran Sam Whitelock is no longer rejoining the All Blacks in Australia.
The All Blacks lock was supposed to fly to Brisbane on Friday to start two weeks in hard quarantine, after remaining behind in New Zealand for the birth of his third child.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) was only granted an exemption for Whitelock to quarantine in Queensland late on Friday, with his flight delayed until Tuesday.
NZR believes the timing of Whitelock's arrival would not give him enough time after two weeks' quarantine, to safely prepare to play against South Africa on October 2.
He will now remain in New Zealand and will rejoin the All Blacks squad for their northern hemisphere tour, starting in October.
However, All Blacks first-five Richie Mo'unga will fly to Queensland on Tuesday and will be available for the final Rugby Championship test against the world champion Springboks.
Mo'unga, like Whitelock, didn't travel with the All Blacks to Australia last month as he too took paternity leave for the birth of his first child.
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