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Boyd: Milner-Skudder could miss Lions series

Hurricanes full-back Nehe Milner-Skudder

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd thinks New Zealand full-back Nehe Milner-Skudder may struggle to prove his fitness in time to face the British and Irish Lions.

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Milner-Skudder suffered a fractured foot during a Super Rugby defeat to Chiefs last month and was expected to be out for six weeks.

Boyd is unsure when the 26-year-old will be ready to return, though, with the first Test against the Lions to be played on June 24.

The Canes coach told New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB: “The solidification of the bone in his foot is slow. It’s a low blood-flow area, so it’s slow.

“We initially thought six weeks, so post the bye that’s coming up after Blues and Brumbies. He may be ready to come in at the back end of that, he may not.”

Boyd added: “He’s worked incredibly hard to keep fit and strong and healthy in other ways, but he’s got a wound that’s not helping him at the moment.

“I don’t think he would have played an awful amount of rugby, before they pick the All Blacks [squad].

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“Whether that’s the preparation that the All Blacks want for that, it depends what sort of back three they’re looking for and who else is fit.

“I think [he] will be available, but he won’t have played a whole lot of rugby.”

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Nickers 38 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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