New Zealand have suffered a huge injury blow with Will Jordan a doubt for the rest of the Nations Championship with a hamstring tear.

Jordan, who became the All Blacks’ record try-scorer earlier this year, sustained the injury in the win over Scotland at Murrayfield, and was forced off in the second half of that game.

While assistant coach Neil Barnes indicated New Zealand were hopeful that the wing may feature against England and on the inaugural finals weekend, further assessment is required and Jordan will miss Saturday’s Test against Wales.

In better news for the tourists, Jordie Barrett has passed two subsequent concussion tests having failed an initial head injury assessment (HIA) during the Scotland game – though he will also not feature in Cardiff.

“There’s a lot of positions in this team where it’s really close, and you know we can make quite a few changes and still put a damn good side out,” Barnes said, with the All Blacks expected to rotate heavily.

“There's a lot of trust in the people we've selected in this. A couple of people will get opportunities, and they've deserved them.

“If they perform, it raises the bar in that position, and then the other person to get back in has got to raise his game.”

New Zealand have dealt with a significant attrition rate during a particular taxing year of international action that included the first Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour to South Africa.

Captain Ardie Savea, Ruben Love, Leroy Carter and Luke Jacobson are among those absent from the northern phase of the Nations Championship.