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Milner-Skudder becomes latest ex-All Black to sign for New York

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Nehe Milner-Skudder has become the second former All Blacks back three player to join Rugby United New York in the space of a month, the 31-year-old following Waisake Naholo to the Big Apple for the remainder of the 2022 Major League Rugby season. 

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It was April 15 when it was confirmed that Naholo, another 31-year-old, had decided to take up an offer in New York after he was unable to pick up a Super Rugby Pacific deal having returned to New Zealand last July following his release from London Irish in the Gallagher Premiership.

The 26-cap ex-All Blacks winger has now been joined at the American club by his fellow 2015 World Cup winner Milner-Skudder, a veteran of 13 caps for New Zealand. 

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A tweet from his new club read: “Welcome to Rugby New York, Nehe. The high stepping @AllBlacks winger and fullback has arrived and is #BuiltforNewYork. The ’15 RWC winner is ready to call NY home. Just 2 home games left! Join us this Sun in Hoboken v Seattle.”

Milner-Skudder had finished out 2021 playing for Manawatu in the Mitre 10 Cup. However, his Super Rugby Pacific stint at the Highlanders failed to lead to any game time and he has now revisited an offer made earlier this year by New York to come to the MLR.

The 2015 World Cup final try-scorer has had his issues in recent years with injury and his signing by Toulon in France was eventually scuppered by a stubborn shoulder problem, but he is now poised to step in at full-back in place of the injured Troy Lockyear.

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Naholo is also said to be ready to make his debut against Seattle this weekend. New York are currently fourth in the Western Conference of the MLR with eight wins from their twelve matches so far.

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NH 2 hours ago
Battle of the breakdown to determine Wallabies’ grand slam future

Nice one John. I agree that defence (along with backfield kick receipt/positioning) remains their biggest issue, but that I did see some small improvements in it despite the scoreline like the additional jackal attempts from guys like tupou and the better linespeed in tight. But, I still see two issues - 1) yes they are jackaling, but as you point out they aren't slowing the ball down. I think some dark arts around committing an extra tackler, choke tackles, or a slower roll away etc could help at times as at the moment its too easy for oppo teams to get quick ball (they miss L wright). Do you have average ruck speed? I feel like teams are pretty happy these days to cop a tackle behind the ad line if they still get quick ball... and 2) I still think the defence wide of the 3-4th forward man out looks leaky and disconnected and if sua'ali'i is going to stay at 13 I think we could see some real pressure through that channel from other teams. The wallabies discipline has improved and so they are giving away less 3 pt opportunities and kicks into their 22 via penalty. Now, they need to be able to force teams to turnover the ball and hold them out. They scramble quite well once a break is made, but they seem to need the break to happen first... Hunter, marika and daugunu were other handy players to put ruck pressure on. Under rennie, they used to counter ruck quite effectively to put pressure on at the b/down as well.

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