Carl Hayman is out of the All Blacks equation, but who can replace him?
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has been handed a massive setback to his master plan to finally end the Rugby World Cup jinx in New Zealand next year.
There's no other way to look at the ramifications of Carl Hayman's decision confirmed overnight to turn his back on the All Blacks and sign a multi-million-dollar two-year deal with Toulon in France.
Henry has long viewed Hayman's return as a key plank in his 2011 World Cup blueprint, and the 30-year-old prop's decision to spurn the generous offer made him by the New Zealand Rugby Union will be regarded as a bitter blow.
So desperate were the NZRU to lure Hayman back they had involved Taranaki and the Hurricanes in the bid process to strengthen their offer, with suggestions they were even prepared to "help" set him up on a dairy farm in the region.
NZRU boss Steve Tew has denied that a farm was any part of their contract offer, though reports suggested that third parties were to be involved to assist him in his ambitions in this area.
New Zealand rugby is short on world-class tighthead props and there has long been a feeling around the All Blacks that they've been in a holding pattern until Hayman's return which was regarded as imminent.
Now that plan has been shredded and Henry faces heading into the World Cup next year without a truly dominant tighthead prop.
The Hurricanes' Neemia Tialata has been the main option since Hayman's 2007 defection, starting 13 of the 29 tests in 2008-09. Greg Somerville, who has since departed to the UK, started eight tests in '08 and the Blues' John Afoa wore the No 3 jersey in four internationals over that two-year span.
The Crusaders' Owen Franks is considered the bright young hope at just 22, and he started four of the All Blacks' 14 tests last year as he made a promising beginning to his international career.
Tialata, Franks and Afoa shape as the main contenders for the World Cup squad, though none appeals as a clear-cut option the way the hulking Hayman would have.
There is a touch of irony in the fact that the man widely regarded as the most dominant tighthead prop in rugby won't be coming to the World Cup, but the NZRU will not budge in their stance on not picking All Blacks from offshore.
Tialata is a versatile sort who can cover both sides and at his best is a strong scrummager and a solid performer around the paddock. But there have long been question marks over his fitness and ability to go the full 80, with his knees considered particularly vulnerable.
Afoa is probably the best ball-player of the three with a dynamic round-the-field game, though he has yet to present the sort of compelling scrum credentials that demand his inclusion in the test mix.
Franks has a cast-iron back, high workrate and a developing ball-in-hand game and has plenty of upside. The downside with him is his age and experience and it could be a World Cup too soon for him to be the first choice in 2011.
Certainly Hayman's decision to take up the riches on offer in Toulon and effectively seal his financial future present a significant upside for the tighthead props who remain in New Zealand.
Suddenly it's all on again for young and old.
Aside from the trio who filled the role last year, the only other potential contenders look a fair way off the mark required.
Ben Franks, Owen's older brother, went on tour with the All Blacks in '08 and is also a more than capable tighthead, while the Highlanders' Clint Newland has size on his side (at 130kg) but has been unable to translate that into dominant form at Super 14 level.
Newland's team-mate Jamie Mackintosh has been a loosehead specialist hitherto, but it could be that the 129kg prop they call 'Whoppa' considers changing sides given recent events.
At the Chiefs Nathan White has been their starting tighthead this season, with youngster Ben Afeaki used off the bench. Neither have international pedigree, though the 22-year-old Afeaki is considered to have potential.
Which leaves Henry, and his assistants, back to plan B for their World Cup preparations which will start this year.
Tialata will probably be their first option, Franks the backup and Afoa the X-factor lurking in the wings.
That's not the end of the world by any means, but it's a long way from the place where Henry envisioned he'd be when he helped put together what many considered would be the deal Hayman would not be able to refuse.
How the All Black tighthead race now shapes:
