Beauden, Scott and Jordie Barrett remained in the country for the funeral. Sam Whitelock and Will Jordan are also out with injuries.
Six All Blacks players, including the three Barrett brothers New Zealand is not in the group He left for Japan on Saturday morning (local time) to play the first match of his autumn tour in less than a week.
Coach Ian Foster explained that the three Beauden brothers, Geordie and Scott Barrett, would stay in New Zealand to attend their grandmother’s funeral and join the group later.
Scrum-half Folau Phakatawa, who earned his first cap against Ireland in July, will be out for several months after injuring his knee in training.
Two other players, second-row Sam Whitelock and winger Will Jordan, are out for an unknown period with inner ear problems, although Foster said Whitelock would be back for the first game in Europe against Wales on November 6.
Four additional players have been called up to the squad: versatile full-back Damien McKenzie, scrum-half Brad Weber, second-row Patrick Tuipulotu and hooker Asafo Aumua.
New Zealand begin their tour against Japan in Tokyo on October 29, before playing Wales, Scotland and England.
Travel fan. Freelance analyst. Proud problem solver. Infuriatingly humble zombie junkie.
