“It’s pretty tough. I know there are a few boys in here really struggling, as you’d expect.

“It was sort of touched upon on this morning and there will be an opportunity to do that later on. I just think a man with so much mana, and respect, it’s such sad news to hear.

“There’s a lot of shock as well. You don’t think it’s going to happen to someone like that but it does. It’s hard to talk about. A lot of people will be hurting. It’s a pretty tough time.”

There are a number of Chiefs within the All Blacks for whom Wainui’s death will be particularly devastating, but Wainui was well known to many throughout the game.

Senior All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock fondly recalled sitting beside Wainui on flights when he was “19 or 20” during his Crusaders days.

“There are a lot of people here heartbroken with Seanie’s passing,” he said. “A lot of people played with him – NZ Maori, the Chiefs, the Crusaders, and also the age-group stuff.

“Obviously a lot of love and compassion goes out to Seanie’s family, [wife] Paige, his kids and extended family.

“This is a delicate one at the moment with the boys being away here. We just want to get around people that were close to Sean.

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“It’s hard for a lot of the guys ... people will be going through the different cycles of grief, and it’s all still very raw.”

Taylor said the All Blacks leadership group had already discussed how to pay respect to Wainui and his family, and said the wider group would be given the opportunity to “connect and acknowledge Seanie and his family and his loved ones”.

“I think shock is one word you can probably say is shared at the moment among the boys,” he said. “We’ll get around to those who are most affected.”

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