The wait goes on for Nehe At a glance
The Highlanders are taking a conservative approach with prized recruit Nehe Milner-Skudder and a firm date for his much-awaited debut remains elusive.
The former All Blacks wing/ fullback won’t play against the Blues at Eden Park tomorrow as he makes his way back after longterm shoulder issues, and Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger has confirmed Milner-Skudder is ‘‘a couple of weeks’’ away from being available.
‘‘We’d love to see him out on the field, but we’re taking a cautious approach,’’ Mauger said yesterday.
‘‘He hasn’t played in 18 months, and we don’t want to set him up to fail.
‘‘A little bit of that is medical advice and a little bit of that is Nehe as well.
‘‘Once he is fully confident around that he can take those full hits . . . he’s not quite there yet, but he is in the final stages.
‘‘So, he’s taking more full-on hits, and also falling on the ground in uncontrolled situations is the last bit of contact to tick off.’’
Initially, the Highlanders had hoped to get Milner-Skudder back on the field against the Blues, but the 29-year-old has not played since late 2018 and rushing him at this stage would threaten to undo the progress he has made up to this point.
Mauger also said it was also a matter of Milner-Skudder
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger on Nehe Milner-Skudder regaining full confidence in his body after his prolonged absence.
‘‘It’s coming,’’ Mauger said. ‘‘It’s not good enough to play and that’s what he’s not playing at the moment, and we’re not putting him in that situation.
‘‘Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks . . . we’re really guided by the medical staff there. [But] he’s had a great influence on our back three.
‘‘We’ve got a young back three. Scotty [Gregory] and Jona [Nareki] and Vili [Koroi], even Josh McKay is still a young man.
‘‘The experience and the knowledge that Nehe’s shared since his time down here has been invaluable for those guys, and I’ve seen a lot of growth in all of them on the back of his contribution.’’
The Highlanders play the Crusaders in Dunedin next weekend and then travel to Wellington to face the Hurricanes.
Milner-Skudder would dearly
Highlanders: Scott Gregory, Sam Gilbert, Rob Thompson, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Dillon Hunt, Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Pari Pari Parkinson, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon, Ayden Johnstone. Replacements: Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jeff Thwaites, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Kayne Hammington, Bryn Gatland, Ngane Punivai.
Blues: Beauden Barrett, Mark Telea, Rieko Ioane, TJ Faiane, Caleb Clarke, Otere Black, Sam Nock, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i, Akira Ioane, Josh Goodhue, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Ofa Tuungafasi, James Parsons, Alex Hodgman. Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Marcel Renata, Sione Mafileo, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Tony Lamborn, Finlay Christie, Harry Plummer, Joe Marchant.
love to face his old side in that clash.
Other positions in the back three appear to be up for grabs in 2021.
Mauger confirmed that Sam Gilbert was contracted for Super Aotearoa only, but said the young Canterbury wing could secure a future in Dunedin, if he continues to impress.
Gilbert has retained the No 14 jersey against the Blues after showing against the Chiefs that he was suited to the physicality of Super Rugby Aotearoa.