The All Blacks remain coy over the details of Waisake Naholo's "alternative" healing in Fiji and whether or not the Highlanders wing was cleared to seek the traditional medical treatment.
Naholo was named in the 31-man World Cup squad after making a faster than expected recovery from a fractured leg, though he won't be available until New Zealand's third pool game of the tournament.
The assistant coach Ian Foster was somewhat evasive when asked directly if Naholo had received clearance from the All Blacks doctors to travel to Fiji for the treatment.
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster. Photo: Photosport
"It was a cultural thing. I know talking about miracles sells papers and stuff like that but at the end of the day the timeline we were given from our medicos was pretty well spot on with what we are seeing now," he said.
"We're not belittling anything culturally but we do trust our medico explicitly and the information they have given us has been back up by x-rays so we're happy."
Foster was also reticent when asked if the All Blacks had checked whether or not the traditional medicine breached any World Anti Doping Agency protocols.
"My understanding was that it was leaves wrapped around his leg."
Foster says Naholo is still only at the jogging stage of his rehab.
Waisake Naholo on the burst during his test debut against Argentina. Photo: Photosport
The Fiji-born winger completed light duties on the sidelines with flanker Liam Messam at today's team practice in Wellington while the rest of the team got stuck into some full contact training.
There was an injury scare when first five Colin Slade fell awkwardly wet and cold conditions but Foster said Slade was okay.