All Blacks inside centre Ma’a Nonu is likely to miss the Test against Ireland during the Irish summer tour of New Zealand and Australia.
The 27-year-old is not expected to recover from the posterior cruciate ligament damage to his left knee in time to play against Ireland on 12 June and Wales on 19 and 26 June.
Nonu sustained the injury while playing for his club, the Hurricanes, on 14 May and surgery to correct the problem is required.
The All Blacks injury list has now extended with hooker Andrew Hore, lock Ali Williams and winger Sitiveni Sivivatu all sidelined.
