The All Blacks could be set to be without both Rieko Ioane and Jerome Kaino for this weekend's test against France in Paris.
Rieko Ioane scores a try during the Rugby Championship test match rugby union. Photo: Photosport
Playing his first test in more than three months, loose-forward Kaino suffered a knee injury during Sunday's 31-22 win over the Barbarians at Twickenham.
Young wing Ioane has the mumps and was kept in isolation at the team's hotel in London over the past week but has travelled wtih the side to the French capital.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Kaino's injury will be monitored over the next few days and the Blues veteran, who has played 81 tests, will certainly be hoping it does not rule him out of any games, or possibly even the rest of the tour.
Kaino is fighting for the No 6 jersey with Liam Squire, who should return to start against France, while athletically-gifted Hurricanes loosie Vaea Fifita is also right in the mix.
The loss of Ioane for would be a sizeable blow for the New Zealand side.
The 20-year-old has been in scintiallting form in the black jersey this year, scoring eight tries in eight tests to establish himself as a certain starter on one of the wings.
Hansen said it was still unclear if Ioane would be available but confirmed the illness was not connected to the same one that kept new squad member Jack Goodhue in New Zealand longer than the rest of the group.
"The doc has done a great job, and we've isolated him, so we're not worried about it spreading," Hansen said.
"It's unrelated to Jack Goodhue's because they haven't been in contact, but it has obviously come out of Auckland somewhere.
"It will be touch and go though if he is available [to face France]. He trained this morning, so we'll just have to see how well he comes through the week."
If Ioane was to miss the chance to face France, Seta Tamanivalu would be the frontrunner to be the replacement.
Tamanivalu wore the No 11 jersey against the Barbarians.