The All Black winger Nehe Milner-Skudder admits to having a few concerns when he returned to contact training with the Hurricanes.
The win over the Blues may have come at a cost for the Hurricanes with All Black winger Nehe Milner-Skudder forced off the field with an injury. Photo: Photosport
Milner-Skudder missed almost all of the 2016 season after injurying his shoulder in the third round of Super Rugby.
He's targetting the Hurricanes pre-season and the inaugural Brisbanes Tens in early February for his return.
Milner-Skudder, who played 8 Tests in 2015, says taking his first hit was a bit scary.
"It was actually Ngani Laumape, the mini-bus they call him, it was suppose to be just a touch drill but he flew up on defence and managed to get a bit of a shoulder on and it was a little bit funny at first, but then it felt good and got the confidence up."
"When you have someone like him running at you and you're intact, then things are tracking pretty well."
While the All Blacks see him as a winger the Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd says they'll probably play him at fullback next year.
"I think Nehe's a capable fullback and wing and so my personal preference is for fullback, I know the All Blacks see him more as a winger, but I think in the modern game the ability to switch between 15 and wing is essential and I think he can play both games really well."
