The three Barrett brothers were among six All Blacks who didn’t board the plane on Saturday for the Test in Japan after their grandmother died.

Coach Ian Foster said world-class siblings Beauden, Jordie and Scott Barrett will remain in New Zealand for the funeral and are in doubt for the Test in a week’s time in Tokyo.

“It’s sad news for the Barrett family, so those three will go down with their family and rejoin us mid to late next week,” Foster told reporters at Auckland’s airport.

Three other players also missed the flight with injury, including scrumhalf Folau Fakatava, who is ruled out of the All Blacks’ northern- hemisphere tour with knee damage suffered in training on Thursday.

Two first-choice players – lock Sam Whitelock and wing Will Jordan – have both developed inner-ear conditions and it is unclear when they will be fit to play.

Foster said veteran forward Whitelock could be ready for the first of three Tests in Europe, against Wales on 6 November. Then come Tests against Scotland and England.

“Will’s probably a little bit worse than Sam, so we’ll just let you know as soon as we’re clear, but we didn’t see any value in bringing them over and having to deal with that,” Foster said. “I wouldn’t say it’s a setback, but it’s just a readjustment, let’s call it that.”

New Zealand have called up four players as cover – utility back Damian McKenzie, scrumhalf Brad Weber, lock Patrick Tuipulotu and hooker Asafo Aumua.

The foursome, who tally more than 100 caps between them, had been named in a New Zealand second-tier squad which will play two matches in Europe in November.

READ: No shocks in All Blacks tour squad

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