How Nehe Milner-Skudder could change the Highlanders backline
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News broke on Tuesday that the Highlanders had made a swift and brilliant move to sign Nehe Milner-Skudder for Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Although the Highlanders are yet to confirm the transfer, respected journalist and commentator Scotty Stevenson released the news as fact.
*clears throat*
— Scotty Stevenson (@sumostevenson) May 12, 2020
Nehe Milner-Skudder will play for the Highlanders this year. @1NewsSportNZ #SuperRugbyAotearoa #superrugby
Milner-Skudder signed a contract to spend the season in France with Toulon but never made the trip over due to a dodgy shoulder and is now set to turn out for the Highlanders after playing all of his 35 Super Rugby matches for the Hurricanes.
The signing of Milner-Skudder is huge boost for the Highlanders who struggled in Super Rugby before the competition was placed on hold. They won just one of their five games as they stunned the Brumbies in Canberra.
Former Highlander and now head coach of the franchise, Tony Brown will be keen to get his hands on the skillful outside back who could turn his tactics around with the Highlanders.
During the 2020 Super Rugby season, Brown implemented a dual playmaker system with Mitchell Hunt at flyhalf and Josh Ioane at inside centre.
Milner-Skudder is a gifted playmaker and could feature as first receiver off the wing or from fullback.
If the World Cup winner were to feature from fullback, this could see Brown drop one of his first fives (likely Hunt) to the bench with a more out and out centre taking the #12 jersey.
Sio Tomkinson and Rob Thompson formed an excellent midfield pairing since Malakai Fekitoa left the franchise and the partnership could be rekindled to turn the Highlanders around.
This would see the Highlanders backline line up something this (9-15): Aaron Smith, Josh Ioane, Jona Nareki, Sio Tomkinson, Rob Thompson, Josh McKay, Nehe Milner-Skudder.
An alternative could simply see McKay continue in his role at fullback with Milner-Skudder on the wing.
If Brown is keen to move Ioane out of the centres he certainly has options with Tana Umaga's nephew Thomas Umaga-Jenson able to fill both roles with Teihorangi Walden also more than capable.
Another alternative could see Brown field three 'fullbacks' in his back three. This would see Hunt retain the first five jersey (9-15): Aaron Smith, Mitchell Hunt, Josh McKay, Sio Tomkinson, Rob Thompson, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Josh Ioane
Although the signing of Milner-Skudder could cause a change for the better in the Highlanders' attack, the franchise are still struggling to replace the numerous forwards who left the club at the end of the 2019 season.
The side lost 10 forwards which included 5 All Blacks in Liam Squire, Elliot Dixon, Luke Whitelock, Jackson Hemopo and Tyrel Lomax.
