All Blacks winger Nehe Milner-Skudder isn't shy about how pumped he is to be back in the black jersey nearly one year after being sidelined with another serious injury.
Milner-Skudder has been named to start for the All Blacks against Argentina in Nelson on Saturday, 11 months after dislocating his right shoulder against the Springboks.
"It's been another rollercoaster the last year or so," Milner-Skudder said.
"When they read the team out and my name was featured, I was pretty pumped and had a big smile on my face. I'm bloody excited."
Milner-Skudder will spend up to six months sidelined after dislocating his shoulder in the All Blacks' 25-24 win over the Springboks. (Source: Other)
The injury was the latest in string of bad luck for Milner-Skudder, who in 2016 dislocated his left shoulder and also suffered a broken foot in the opening rounds of the 2017 Super Rugby competition.
But the 27-year-old has remained positive throughout.
"The second time round has been a little bit harder in terms of, 'oh bugger, here we go again'," he said.
"But at the same time, using the experiences and what I went through the first time round sort of helped and my mindset was the biggest thing I had to deal with and overcome.
"It was just a matter of staying positive and that paid off in a lot of ways - just getting to be back in this environment and to get a crack this weekend, it's such a good feeling to know all that hard work and those tough times, you get through them and come out the other end."
Milner-Skudder's selection comes after strong performances for Manawatū in the Mitre 10 Cup, while the All Blacks played the first two Bledisloe Cup Tests against the Wallabies.
The winger has been called back into the squad after good form for the Turbos. (Source: Other)
"He just looks sharp," assistant coach Ian Foster said on Tuesday.
"He always creates stuff, we know that. It was more a matter of him going back of getting two or three consistent games on the wing, and getting those instincts for playing in that position again.
"He's been ready to play, but we've had too many players to put on the park, he was one person we felt would benefit from time doing that.
"He's came back in Auckland sharp, he came back in this week looking sharp, he keeps hammering on the door."
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