NMS gets his spring back and hails ‘world’s best’ Barrett

As one door closes, another opens and Nehe Milner-Skudder has come bounding through it as the hot-stepping answer to Steve Hansen’s prayers.

In the All Blacks, problems tend to get solved pretty quickly, and sometimes instantly.

Hansen lost his rejuvenated right wing Israel Dagg to an ongoing knee problem after the back-toback Bledisloe victories over Australia, which might have been significant. Especially when it was confirmed he wouldn’t return this season.

With world-class fullback Ben Smith also departing post-Bledisloe for his sabbatical, there was potential for some serious disruption with two-thirds of the established back three gone.

But in has stepped MilnerSkudder as though he hasn’t spent nearly two years away from test rugby, waiting and wondering when his next chance would come. Problem solved.

‘‘Patience has been massive,’’ Milner-Skudder says as he reflects on the long wait to resume his test career. ’’Leading into this year I’d worked bloody hard on my rehab, felt really good physically and was ready to hit the ground running.’’

But then came a foot fracture, and more waiting, and more rehab. ‘‘It was bloody tough to deal with. But to sit back now and reflect on what I’ve been through and to be here, back in the environment and back playing test footy, it’s such a good feeling.’’

Milner-Skudder never lost sight of the end goal, nor the motivation to get there.

‘‘When you’re sitting on the sidelines watching boys just kill it, that fuels the motivation,’’ he says.

‘‘I pinch myself now just thinking how good it is to be back around the boys. This environment definitely brings the best out in me.

‘‘When you’ve got the best players in the world around you, there’s no choice another level.’’

Milner-Skudder knows he has got his chance through a setback to Dagg. Just as Dagg got his opportunity in 2016 through his absence.

‘‘I feel for him,’’ he says. ‘‘He’s been like a big bro in this environment, always giving advice and support, and he’s a good bugger. It’s a shame to see him injured, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back.’’

Still, the jinking wing was rapt to be part of such a special performance last week against the South Africans.

‘‘We’ve talked about playing what we see, communicating that space and being able to execute. but to go up The opportunities were there but the way we executed was really good. And being out on the edge watching it all unfold, I was kinda buzzing out at the skill level.’’

He could even smile about a query on his pace, given his inability to finish off an intercept opportunity last week, which he scored anyway courtesy of a miraculous Beauden Barrett no-look back-flick.

‘‘I’d like to say that all went to plan ...’’ he grinned, before complimenting the speed of Boks wing Courtnall Skosan. ‘‘I caught him out the corner of my eye just gunning it, saw Beaudy, thought I’d hit Baz and he’ll shut the gate ... I didn’t expect a flick pass, pretty much fell perfectly hands.’’

Speaking of Barrett, a late callup for Argentina, Milner-Skudder is puzzled by the criticism that has come the playmaker’s way in 2017.

‘‘Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but people should see how hard he works, and the little things he does, how he organises players around him, and is not afraid to take it to the line which creates space for guys outside.

‘‘His communication is good, and the way he puts those crosskicks in ... he cops a lot of flak but I think he’s the world’s best player doing the things he does.’’ but it in my