Nehe Milner-Skudder
New Zealand will join forces with World Cup semifinal opponents South Africa for the Barbarians next month.
Nehe Milner-Skudder – whose brilliant try opened the scoring in the weekend’s 62 / 13 win over France – tops the list of All Blacks invited to feature in games against Argentina and Gloucester.
The rookie wing now has 7 tries in his 1st 6 Tests for New Zealand and will be joined by scrumhalf Tewera Kerr-Barlow, wing Waisake Naholo and prop Charlie Faumuina from the current Rugby World Cup squad, and reinforced by centre Ryan Crotty, flyhalf Lima Sopoaga and uncapped flanker Ardie Savea.
The Barbarians, who beat Samoa at the former Olympic Stadium in August, take on Gloucester on 17 November at Kingsholm before facing the Argentinian Pumas at Twickenham Stadium on 21 November.
The famous invitation club was founded 125 years ago and the Killik Cup match against Rugby World Cup semifinalists Argentina is the centrepiece of the celebrations.
The cosmopolitan squad will see the All Blacks line up alongside South Africa’s Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira and Patrick Lambie, as well as former Springboks lock Bakkies Botha.
They will work with a new coach in the shape of Australia’s Michael Cheika, who will have Wallabies players Stephen Moore, Greg Holmes and Scott Fardy available to him – as well as giant Fiji wing Nemani Nadolo.
“The Barbarians do a wonderful job of bringing different nations and talent together to celebrate rugby on the world stage,” said Cheika.
With Milner-Skudder and Nadolo on their respective wings, it should be quite a celebration.
Sport24