New Zealand scrum-half Andy Ellis has seriously injured his ribs following their 32-6 win over Scotland, the All Blacks doctor said on Sunday, meaning he will have to cut short his tour.

Ellis, who was a second half substitute for Piri Weepu at Murrayfield but his time on the field on Saturday lasted just 20 minutes, is the second player in the Kiwi squad to finish his tour early following hooker Andrew Hore's departure with an ankle injury after the Test against Australia in Hong Kong.

"Andy suffered a torn rib cartilage on his right side during the match and had to leave the field," All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said.

"An ultrasound scan has confirmed he has an unstable rib and there is a risk of further injury if Andy continues playing."

Ellis has had a frustrating few weeks with injury.

He suffered a similar rib injury on the opposite side that ruled him out of this year's Tri Nations and had to overcome a knee cartilage problem, which he sustained during the latter stages of Canterbury's Air New Zealand Cup campaign, to make the trip to the northern hemisphere.

Weepu's Wellington teammate Alby Mathewson has been called in as a replacement.

There was more positive news regarding full-back Isaia Toeava, who did not play the second half after suffering a "stinger" to his right shoulder.

He is expected to be fit for the Test against Ireland on Saturday but is likely to start on the bench at best after Mils Muliaina joined the squad following time off to be with his newborn baby.

Muliaina has played only one match for his Waikato province since the All Blacks' Tri Nations victory in Brisbane on September 13 but is expected to run out at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday.

AFP