The All Blacks have pushed flanker Ethan Blackadder into their World Cup squad amid concerns over the fitness of captain Sam Cane during a troubling start to their campaign in France.
New Zealand named Blackadder as an injury replacement for wing Emoni Narawa, who is out of the tournament.
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They chose to add loose forward cover on Saturday after Cane was ruled out of the opening-game loss to France just before kickoff with a back problem.
Blackadder's call-up was to "reinforce the loose forward stock," coach Ian Foster said, although he added the management team was confident that openside flanker Cane's injury was "not long-term".
"Having Ethan in just gives us a little bit of extra protection in that space," Foster said.
Foster said he was still uncertain if Cane would be available for New Zealand's second Pool A game against Namibia next Friday.
"Whether he'll be right for Namibia, I couldn't tell you at the moment," Foster said.
"But the medics don't seem overly concerned by it at the moment."
The All Blacks have other injuries to work through after losing for the first time in the pool stage at a Rugby World Cup, going down 27-13 to the hosts on Friday.
Another flanker, Shannon Frizell, is still unavailable, as is prop Tyrel Lomax, who sustained a deep cut to his right thigh in a warm-up against South Africa.
Lomax might be ready for the third pool game against Italy on September 29, Foster said.
Centre Jordie Barrett, who also missed the opener against France with a left knee problem, was improving, Foster said, while lock Brodie Retallick is back near full fitness after playing the last 10 minutes against France.
