With the countdown to the British & Irish Lions 2017 tour to New Zealand well underway, we pick out some key names who could star for the All Blacks in two summers’ time.
Last week we shone the spotlight on Julian Savea and now it is the turn of the man who joins him to form one of the most feared wing duos in world rugby – Nehe Milner-Skudder.
Milner-Skudder is a relative newcomer to the Test arena but the 25-year-old has already made a tremendous impact in the international game.
His first cap arrived against Australia in August of this year and despite the All Blacks slipping to a 27-19 defeat, the debutant grabbed a pair of tries to offer head coach Steve Hansen a significant silver lining.
Hansen was clearly impressed and, with just two All Blacks caps to his name, Milner-Skudder was handed a starting role in New Zealand’s World Cup campaign.
He crossed the whitewash six times in as many appearances throughout the competition, including a try in the final as New Zealand retained the World Cup crown at Twickenham.
Only Savea scored more tries, with eight, but no player in the tournament made more clean breaks (15) or metres (561) than Milner-Skudder.
His international career may only have just begun, but the fleet-footed Hurricanes winger is already a World Cup winner and boasts a Test try-scoring average of one every game.
Next in his sights is a Super Rugby campaign, as the Canes seek to once again challenge for the title, and another tilt at the Rugby Championship.
But there is little doubt that a battle with the British & Irish Lions in 2017 is high up on the eye-catching winger’s agenda.
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