All Blacks winger Nehe Milner-Skudder out for six months, likely to miss bulk of Super Rugby season

  • 09/10/2017

All Blacks winger Nehe Milner-Skudder is set to be out of action for the next six months with his latest injury setback.

Milner-Skudder left Sunday morning's (NZT) Test match against South Africa nursing his right shoulder, and coach Steve Hansen has confirmed it's yet another dislocation which will see him miss the European tour and the majority of the next Super Rugby season.

"The shoulder's dislocated. It came out, went back in, then came out again, which means he has to have an operation because the ligaments aren't holding it in," said Hansen.

The Hurricanes back missed significant time earlier this year after dislocating his right shoulder and had only recently returned to full fitness.

"He's well-versed in what's to come and he knows that he can get the recovery and the rehab done and make it back. So at least there's a positive there for him.

"It's a good time of the year, I guess, in that it's over a few of those months where he's not meant to be playing.

"He hasn't had much luck, the poor bugger."

The winger had been a stand-out for the All Blacks through the opening half of action before his opposite number Courtnall Skosan crashed down on top of him as he attempted to regather a loose ball.

The 26-year-old's absence could make way for the return of veteran Julian Savea for the final Rugby Championship Test in Brisbane in two week's time, as well as the end of year tour.

However, Hansen said the injury wouldn't impact their plans for the Wallabies, implying that Waisake Naholo had already been pencilled in for a starting berth.

The news is more encouraging for Beauden Barrett, with Hansen confirming the first-five had passed his HIA test for concussion.

"He just felt nauseous and he made comment that he was seeing stars...which is a symptom of concussion. We just thought it wasn't worth putting him back out there.

"He's pretty good today and we've got a couple of weeks, so we'll just see how he goes."

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