Nehe Milner-Skudder will become the ninth new All Black in four games after being included in mass changes in the backs for this weekend’s Rugby Championship decider against Australia.
New Zealand and Australia go into the final-round clash as the only unbeaten sides in the tournament which also includes South Africa and Argentina.
The Bledisloe Cup, contested between the trans-Tasman rivals, is at stake as well. Milner-Skudder will start on the right wing as coach Steve Hansen continues to experiment with combinations before settling on his World Cup squad.
Only scrum-half Aaron Smith and centre Conrad Smith survive from the backline that started in the 27-20 win over South Africa in the All Blacks last outing at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Hansen has made two further changes in the forwards and two on the bench in the team announced on Wednesday.
“We will have to take a step up from our Ellis Park performance,” Hansen said. “This means we will need to bring physicality, intensity and accuracy to the occasion. I am picking this to be a brutal contest, and one we are looking forward to.”
The call up for Milner-Skudder – a relative of former All Blacks Buff Milner and George Skudder – follows a standout year for the Wellington Hurricanes where he starred with his eye for the half-gap and broad sidestep. He forms part of a potent back three with left wing Julian Savea and Ben Smith moving to full-back.
The Aussie team will announced on Thursday.
