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Former All Blacks coaches have attacked the team's senior management for failing to prevent Doug Howlett's drunken escapade in London that led to his arrest for criminal damage.
Laurie Mains and Alex "Grizz" Wyllie have both questioned how Howlett was left to lose the plot with so many management staff and players around him.
Wyllie admitted he did not know the full details, but said: "How the hell did it happen if there was nine team management there?"
Mains said if a player was getting a little bit unruly, it fell on the players and management to look after him.
"It's called looking after your mates. Everybody does. Not just the management. Players have that responsibility to look after their mates as well. But without knowing the circumstances, it's very hard to comment."
Last night, the Australian Rugby Union said four Wallabies had joined the All Blacks for a drink after checking in late on Monday night at the Hilton Hotel at Heathrow Airport - where Howlett was drinking before he jumped on and damaged two cars outside and was arrested.
A union spokesman declined to name the four, and did not know when they left the bar, but said rugby management understood there had been no issues with their behaviour.
All Blacks manager Darren Shand revealed yesterday that nine members of the team management, led by media manager Scott Compton and his second-in-charge, were among the group gathered at the Hilton. Two to three senior All Blacks were also there.
Shand, who travelled home with coach Graham Henry and most of the team, confirmed that he and other senior All Blacks management were told about the incident just as they boarded a plane in Tokyo for the final leg of their flight.
But despite this, Henry later said of the All Blacks squad: "They are marvellous role models for this country." People had told him "they are the best sporting team that ever stays in their hotels, the most open and friendly and easy to get along with".
Howlett has since apologised for his actions and accepted sole responsibility. He said he had not intended to cause "anybody or anything any harm whatsoever".
"I'm embarrassed that the events of one evening have led to me being in this situation. It was a little bit of tomfoolery that has caused me to be here."
He will pay for the damage and face disciplinary action by the New Zealand Rugby Union.
Shand said Hilton security staff alerted the team management to what Howlett had done.
"I guess with any group of that size, and feeling that level of disappointment, things like that can happen. To this point we have managed that very well, and one person stepped outside of that and has gone and done something we find very disappointing."
The Herald contacted Compton yesterday as he was about to board a flight in Los Angeles. He would not comment on the incident, and referred all questions back to Shand.
The disciplinary action taken against Howlett could mean enforced counselling, a fine or termination of his NZRU contract - which is due to expire anyway at the end of the year when he joins Irish club Munster.
Shand denied Howlett's actions were indicative of a drinking culture in the All Blacks. "I don't think there is a problem. I think this group made significant sacrifices over and above what I have seen groups make in my 10 years in this role.
"I think the culture has changed immeasurably. I think there has been a paradigm shift from when I started.
"You will always get isolated incidents from time to time, and I believe most of them now are isolated rather than on the scale they have been previously."
Mains said Howlett had made a mistake and it should not be taken so seriously.
"One has to understand the pressures these players are under. Doug will be disappointed - he has been such a great role model."
Howlett's father, Simon, told the Herald last night that media inquiries should now go through his son's lawyer, David Jones, who had flown to Europe to meet him.
"I think I've said everything that needs to be said. It's out of my hands," Mr Howlett said.
"He [his son] is still regretful and very apologetic about what's happened. We're happy no one was hurt."
He said his son's fiancee, Monique Everard, and their 3-month-old son Charles had been in Los Angeles at the time of the incident. "The main thing is that Monique and the baby weren't there with the guys when it happened. They were well out of it."
Asked if he thought it was unfair his son was taking all the blame over the incident, Mr Howlett replied: "I don't know enough about what happened and who he was with to comment on that."
Graham Henry would not comment last night. A woman at the door of his plush St Heliers home told the Herald he was entertaining guests.
Up to a dozen adults and children, who appeared to be in good spirits, could be seen through a window.
Howlett's team-mates were in no hurry to pass judgment as they left the Heathrow Hilton yesterday.
Howlett stayed in the hotel while the remaining All Blacks filed out to return to New Zealand.
When questioned, forward Jerry Collins told One News he was disappointed by the events. "It's disappointing but, you know, it's just one of those things. When things go wrong, they go really wrong."
Centre Mils Muliaina said it was a matter of waiting for details of the incident to come out.
"It's just something unfortunate that's happened, obviously, but we need to see what we're going to do.
"Once we find out the details of it, we'll take it from there."
Asked if he knew anything about the incident, lock Ali Williams said he had been in bed.
Meanwhile, All Blacks management were providing no details about who was responsible for the mammoth Hilton bar bill. Britain's Daily Telegraph reported Howlett and other All Blacks at the hotel ran up an alcohol and food tab of around $31,000.
The huge bill may be partly explained by the Hilton's price-list. A single beer is reported to cost around $25, an average bottle of wine costs $100 and a glass of cognac costs a whopping $300.
