Cruden will miss the remaining Tests © Getty Images

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Embarrassed All Blacks first five-eighth Aaron Cruden has been dropped for the remainder of the Rugby Championship and could face further disciplinary action after missing his flight to Argentina after a night out on the town.

Cruden not the first to be punished for a night out

A night out has cost Cruden a spot on the All Blacks © Facebook

• 2012 - Aaron Smith was punished by team management for a late night "breach in discipline" after the All Blacks' victory over Argentina in Wellington.
  
• 2011 - Cory Jane and Israel Dagg were punished for spending a night on the town during the World Cup- Both later admitted to mixing sleeping pills with alcohol.
  
• 2011 - Zac Guildford forced to apologise and admitted to being an alcoholic after he had staggered into a local bar, naked, drunk and bleeding before assaulting two holidaymakers.
  
• 2008 - Jimmy Cowan was ordered to stop drinking and fined by the NZRU after several arrests for drunken behaviour.
  
• 2007 - Ali Williams was sent home from a Blues tour of South Africa after disciplinary indiscretions - including late-night drinking.
  
• 2005 - Mills Muliaina and Tony Coughlan were reprimanded for urinating at public bars.
  
• 1999 - Norm Hewitt smashed through the glass door of a Queenstown house after a late night bender.
  

New Zealand Rugby officials said Cruden failed to make it to Auckland Airport for the flight on Sunday morning, which was scheduled to leave at 10.30am. He had joined team-mates for a meal and drinks on Saturday night, but his movements after that are unclear.

Coach Steve Hansen deemed the his actions unacceptable and said he would not be considered for the Tests in La Plata on Saturday or the Test against South Africa in Johannesburg a week later. "We are extremely disappointed at Aaron's actions which are out of character. He is embarrassed at his actions," Hansen said on the All Blacks twitter account.

A few hours later a chastened Cruden told the media he had made "a poor decision regarding the limits of my alcohol intake". He went on: "I am deeply embarrassed by this lack of judgement and have never been more disappointed in myself. I have not only let myself down, but most importantly, I have let my team down.

"I carry the burden of shame and disappointment and I am deeply apologetic to my team, to my family, and also the New Zealand public.

"I have no excuses. I have been working really hard over the past few years at gaining respect on the field as well as off the field and am devastated I have dropped my own high personal standards, as well as the standards set by New Zealand Rugby."

NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Tew says he fully supported the decision to drop him. "It's fair to say we're disappointed in his behaviour. We do set very high standards in this team and everyone understands those standards and the expectations that go with them," he said.

He spoke to a distraught Cruden on Sunday who admitted having let himself and his team-mates down. "I think the word `gutted' is probably a reasonable one."

Tew said team management are still working out what players did on Saturday night so could not say if there will be disciplinary action against any other players, or if Cruden will face further punishment.

A more formal disciplinary process was likely against Cruden, who last year signed a lucrative ambassador deal with All Blacks sponsor AIG.

"An incident like this with Aaron is very out of character. But we have treated it on its merits. There is a very high threshold of expectation within this team," Tew said.

At this stage, he said, Cruden will be eligible for next month's third Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane. It is unclear if he is free to play provincial rugby for Manawatu before then.

The night out took place after the team's original flight on Saturday afternoon was delayed for mechanical reasons.

Tew says some players went home to families that night or out with friends while Cruden joined team-mates at The Zookeeper's Son pub and restaurant. The establishment has posted photos on Facebook of several All Blacks, accompanied by a message that they had enjoyed a good night.

"The rest of them got home and got on the plane without any problem," Tew said.

Cruden has established himself in the No.10 jersey in the last two seasons, boosted by ongoing injury problems for veteran Dan Carter. He started six of the All Blacks seven Tests this year, kicking 69 points to lift his Test tally to 256, the fifth-most by an All Black.

Tom Taylor has been drafted in as a squad replacement. Beauden Barrett is the probable starting No.10 in Argentina, with Colin Slade likely to earn promotion to the reserves bench.

The unbeaten All Blacks will secure the Rugby Championship title if victorious in La Plata.