Nehe Milner-Skudder pushes through the Australian defence during the Bledisloe test match in Sydney. The ABs lost the game but Milner-Skudder showed he was a star in the making. Photo / Getty Images
Nehe Milner-Skudder pushes through the Australian defence during the Bledisloe test match in Sydney. The ABs lost the game but Milner-Skudder showed he was a star in the making. Photo / Getty Images
All Blacks wing Nehe Milner-Skudder had a difficult evening under the high ball in the semi-final against the Springboks but his form against the Wallabies should serve as a source of comfort ahead of Sunday's final.
Milner-Skudder's test career has been as energy-packed and dramatic as the little 24-year-old's on-fieldefforts, starting in early August against Australia in Sydney. The result was a rare defeat for the All Blacks, but a star in the making had been revealed.
He scored two tries with his pace and surprising strength in the 27-19 loss and backed it up with an impressive performance in the return fixture at Eden Park a week later.
One of the highlights for him in that 41-13 thrashing which allowed his side to retain the Bledisloe Cup was an electric break up the middle and brilliant assist inside for Aaron Smith, who was tackled high by Quade Cooper in the act of scoring and so earned a penalty try.
His only other tests have come at this World Cup - a tough one against Argentina at Wembley where he looked a little overwhelmed, two excellent performances against Namibia and Tonga, and an even better one against France in the quarter-final, a test in which he scored his team's second try.
In seven tests he has scored seven tries, mainly thanks to his amazing footwork and pace which could conceivably allow him to evade someone in a phone box.
Milner-Skudder clashes with Israel Folau in the Bledisloe rematch. Photo / Getty Images
Milner-Skudder forced his way into the squad following Waisake Naholo's leg fracture and now his form is dictating his continued selection in the No14 jersey; all of which has culminated in a World Rugby nomination for breakthrough player of the year alongside Scotland centre Mark Bennett and Georgia halfback Vasil Lobzhanidze.
"I only just found out before I sat down," Milner-Skudder said, as he faced the media today. "I'm blown away, I'm enjoying every minute at the moment and it's a privilege to be nominated for that award."
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The Wallabies will have seen how Boks wing Bryan Habana was able to out-jump Milner-Skudder during the All Blacks' 20-18 semifinal victory, before coach Steven Hansen moved fullback Ben Smith to the right wing.
Hansen was quick to point out that Milner-Skudder was also capable at defusing bombs, but it was a case of best using one of the team's best resources.
"They saw something and wanted to kick on Nehe," Hansen said after the match. "We swapped him and Bender over because he's our best high ball catcher - I'm saying Nehe can't do it, I'm saying let's put the best guy there who can catch it - and throughout the game on our own catching Bender was brilliant."
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Milner-Skudder will have learned plenty from the Boks' arm-wrestle, just as he would have during the nine-try romp against France, two matches at the opposite ends of the sudden-death test spectrum.
He is excited about the challenge ahead, the biggest game of his life, just as halfback Aaron Smith is.
Smith, an excitable chap at the best of times, said: "I had a little moment after the game the other day about how it's here. All the talk over the last few years has been about always heading towards this. As a player you've got to put it to the back of your mind but it's finally at the point know when you can talk about it because we've earned the right to play in this game that everyone wants to be a part of. That really excites me."
