The NZ sevens side and the All Blacks have been dealt a major injury blow, Sonny Bill Williams ruled out of all sports for up to nine months after partially tearing his achilles.
Williams limped off early in the second half with what looked to be a knee injury but has since been confirmed by the NZ Olympic Team's twitter page, as a partial Achilles rapture.
In a double blow for Gordon Tietjens' side, Joe Webber is unlikely to play any further part after suffering as shoulder injury just minutes after Williams was replaced.
NZ Rugby CEO Steve Tew later confirmed that Williams would be likely to be out of all sport for a lengthy period of time.
"He could be out for six to nine months which is obviously devastating for him because he had a big year in front of him," said Tew.
The 31-year-old will take no part in the All Blacks Rugby Championship campaign.
Williams had been due to miss only the first Test against Australia in Sydney on August 20 due to his Olympic commitments, before returning for the rest of the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Tests.
New Zealand lost to Japan 14-12 to put their medal prospects in serious doubt and now face the task of having to beat Kenya and Great Britain to guarantee progression into the quarter-finals.
He has been replaced by Sione Molia in the sevens team that bounced back to beat Kenya 28-5 later on Tuesday.
Newshub.
