All Blacks down another man as Dane Coles flies back for child's birth

All Blacks hooker Dane Coles against Australia during the Bledisloe Cup test match. Photo / New Zealand Herald

The All Blacks are down another player, with hooker Dane Coles flying back to New Zealand from Argentina to be at the birth of his first child.

After performing a haka to team-mates, a tradition for a player leaving the All Blacks camp, Dane Coles left the team hotel bound for the airport and impending fatherhood.

The team tweeted his departure on their Twitter account:

UPDATE: Hooker Dane Coles has returned to New Zealand to be with his partner who is expecting their first child.

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) September 24, 2014

Coles's partner Sarah had been due to give birth on October 1.

His departure will bring veteran Keven Mealamu into the starting role to face the Pumas this weekend at La Plata. It also means that the All Blacks debut for Bay of Plenty hooker Nathan Harris will most likely take place in La Plata as opposed to Johannesburg as previously planned.

The team have already lost one player from the tour. Aaron Cruden's late-night drinking session on Saturday in Auckland resulted in him missing the team's Sunday flight to South America. He has been replaced by Beauden Barrett.

Before he flew out for the tour, Coles admitted he was "pretty nervous" asking the All Black coaching staff for time out from the Rugby Championship to be at his child's birth.

"I was a bit scared, to be honest, about how they would react," Coles said. "Fortunately everyone in the ABs' camp was really supportive. Speaking to the fathers in the team, they said it was a pretty special time."

Coles had been due to play the La Plata test and then return to New Zealand.

He had joked that parental wouldn't be as popular in World Cup year. "If we have another one next year, there will be a bit of planning."

His baby isn't the only one putting pressure on the All Blacks.

The All Blacks' midfield crisis could deepen during their end-of-year tour to the US and Britain if Sonny Bill Williams is forced to cut his trip short due to the birth of his first child.

Williams' wife, Alana, is reportedly due around the middle of November, when he will be away from Australia on tour with the All Blacks. The All Blacks are scheduled to play Scotland on the 15th and Wales on the 22nd.

A recent report from Sydney states Williams, playing for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League, has already cleared a dash home with All Blacks management.

With regular second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken arm, Williams' presence on tour is even more vital to the All Blacks' cause.

A spokeswoman for New Zealand Rugby was unable to say whether Williams had discussed with All Blacks management the possibility of making a quick trip home to Sydney.

Williams' manager, Khoder Nasser, was unwilling to discuss the issue and made it clear that his client was prepared to do all he could to fit in with the All Blacks' plans and tour schedule.

"Sonny is willing to make himself available straight away, as soon as his rugby league commitments are finished. His whole aspirations are in one direction," Nasser said.

"He's made it clear that he's available and willing to do everything he can to make the All Blacks squad and make the World Cup team."