The All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith has been sent home from South Africa and will serve a one-match suspension following an incident at Christchurch Airport last month.
RNZ reports the All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Smith was seen entering a toilet cubicle with a female friend at Christchurch Airport the day after the test against the Springboks last month.
Smith is on his way back to New Zealand and will miss Sunday morning's Rugby Championship test in Durban.
Hansen said Smith had been suspended for one Test after breaking team protocol regarding behaviour.
"On the Sunday in Christchurch after the South African test at the Christchurch airport Aaron and a female friend were seen by members of the public to enter the disabled toilets," Hansen said.
"On our arrival to South Africa on Monday we were informed on this. I had a conversation with Aaron who confirmed the story. As a result of this the leadership group met and were unanimous in the fact the behaviour wasn't acceptable and as a consequence a one match suspension would be put in place."
Hansen said Smith accepted his behaviour was not of All Black standard and the team leaders decided on the punishment.
"Clearly Aaron is bitterly disappointed in his behaviour and feels he's let the team down but just as importantly feels bitterly disappointed in letting his family and his partner down," said Hansen.
He said Smith had asked to return home to deal with the "personal matters that have come with this incident".
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said: "This was really bad decision-making by Aaron which reflects poorly on him, and on the team."
Smith will face a misconduct hearing on his return to New Zealand.
"He has failed to meet the standards that New Zealand Rugby and the public expect of our players.
"We are taking action to improve the culture of our game and are about to embark on an independent review of respect and responsibility in our professional player environment. We have drafted the terms of reference and are currently talking to prospective panel members. We will provide an update on this shortly."
It is not the first time Smith has courted controversy.
In 2012 he was benched for a Test against South Africa in Dunedin for breaking a team curfew and two years a later a naked selfie of him was posted online.