All Blacks halfback Andy Ellis has been ruled out of the remainder of New Zealand's tilt at a rugby Grand Slam after sustaining a rib injury during Saturday's 32-6 defeat of Scotland at Murrayfield.

Ellis, who substituted Piri Weepu in the 50th minute, had to be replaced with 10 minutes to play after being crunched in a tackle.

He is likely to be replaced by Wellington's Alby Mathewson. All Blacks management were trying to contact Mathewson while they coordinated their departure on Sunday for Dublin and Saturday's Test against the Irish at Croke Park.

The injury is another demoralising blow for Ellis who started the international season as the All Blacks' top-ranked halfback.

He suffered his first rib injury against Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup Test at Sydney in July, which ruled him out of the remainder of the Tri-Nations.

A knee injury late in Canterbury's Air NZ Cup title-winning campaign then forced him to miss that final and jeopardised his prospects of touring though he was taken as back-up to Jimmy Cowan and Weepu.

Ellis is the second member of the tour party to return home early. First choice hooker Andrew Hore lasted just four minutes of the tour-opening Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong on November 1 before being dispatched home with an ankle injury.

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