Nehe’s back, in green
Milner-skudder to feature in Turbos’ opener
Few New Zealand rugby players get the turnstiles whizzing like Nehe Milner-skudder does.
So the Manawatu Turbos should hope to coax a few extra fans to the their national provincial championship opener against Wellington on Sunday with All Black Milner-skudder in the Manawatu ranks.
Milner-skudder has been released by the All Blacks for this game and the exciting outside back is a massive boost for the Turbos backline for the first game of the season at CET Arena.
Milner-skudder was released at the start of the week and has been training with the Turbos, who have been in camp at Otaki since Saturday.
Turbos coach Jeremy Cotter said the All Blacks released him so they would do the right thing and play him.
‘‘It’s great to start the competition with Nehe in as well,’’ Cotter said. ‘‘We want to start well and he’s a little boost for the boys.
‘‘We’re looking forward to it. Hopefully it will raise a bit of awareness, especially with Julian Savea in the Wellington team.’’
Cotter wasn’t sure if he would use Milner-skudder at wing or fullback yet.
Cotter said there wasn’t a amount of minutes Milnerskudder was allowed to play, and Cotter would see how the eight-cap All Black was feeling when it came to how much game time he would give him.
‘‘He was straight back into it with the boys, he’s keen and there’s no ego about him,’’ Cotter said. ‘‘He’s in to do the job and helps out and really contributes well.
‘‘He’s excellent like that and happy to be around and he knows most of the boys. It’s bloody good.’’
Milner-skudder has played 35 games for Manawatu, but hasn’t featured since the Turbos’ Championship-winning season in 2014.
He was out for the season with injury last year and in 2015 he was away in England with the All Blacks at the World Cup.
Even though Milner-skudder was released by the All Blacks ahead of their Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Sydney this weekend, he will rejoin the All Blacks ahead of the second test in Dunedin next weekend.
The Turbos should be near full strength for the clash with Wellington this weekend.
Midfielder Hamish Northcott is out with concussion and Crusaders prop Mike Alaalatoa is still on his Super Rugby break, but otherwise they will have a full muster.