Weepu is stretchered from the field in the New Zealand capital

Wellington scrum-half Piri Weepu is out of New Zealand's autumn internationals after breaking his leg on Saturday.

The versatile 27-year-old suffered the injury in a tackle during the Lions' 49-15 ITM Cup win over Taranaki.

New Zealand will name their squad on Sunday ahead of a tour opener against Australia in Hong Kong on 30 October.

The All Blacks's first Test in Europe is against England on 7 November before matches against Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the Barbarians.

Weepu, who can also play as a fly-half and is on Wellington Hurricanes' books for the Super 14, made his All Blacks debut in their 26-25 win over Wales Cardiff in 2004.

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He has scored 57 points in 44 Test matches - the most recent of those being the 23-22 triumph over the Wallabies on 11 September that sealed a Tri-Nations clean sweep for the Kiwis.

Lions number nine Alby Mathewson is being tipped to get the call from the All Black selectors in his team-mate's absence.

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