First take: Milner-Skudder sends message

Nehe Milner-Skudder was at his brilliant best against the Brumbies. Photo / Getty

Hurricanes 29
Brumbies 9

Select him while he's hot.

That was the message - loud and clear - to the All Blacks.

For 40 minutes, Nehe Milner-Skudder terrorised the Brumbies before he was taken out of the semifinal so as not to tempt fate with his tight hamstring.

Tacklers pass him by, the ball bounces his way and team-mates go on high alert, knowing chances will come almost every time the utility outside back gets the ball.

The All Blacks have made a big play for Waisake Naholo, freeing him from a French club contract. This might give the Highlanders' flyer the inside running as the new test wing, but this is a battle and Milner-Skudder has more dimensions to his game.

The Super Rugby playoff against the Brumbies was so one-sided that there was time to mull over All Blacks ramifications while admiring the breathtaking attack and energy from the Hurricanes.

Beauden Barrett kicked himself out of the test starters while Ardie Savea posed an enormous question - how will the All Blacks incorporate him into their plans long term?
Barrett's first-half goalkicking wobbles were no surprise. He just doesn't have the clinical Dan Carter technique and psyche.

All Blacks boss Steve Hansen would regard a semifinal as the time for Barrett to prove he has what it takes. He doesn't have it.

His first-half misses kept the battered Brumbies spirits up. Big tests, World Cup games, are won and lost on stuff like that. Barrett was dumped as the Hurricanes' goalkicker mid-match, which was a very bad look. It's disappointing, because Barrett offers so much elsewhere.

The hard-charging Savea is the best player to miss the initial test squad of 41, by a long shot, and was fantastic against the Brumbies giving David Pocock more than a run for his money. He also departed early but, if fit for the final, it could be Savea's big moment, to force a re-think.

Richie McCaw owns the No 7 shirt, with Sam Cane and Matt Todd making up the queue. Cane and Todd will be there for a long time, so where does Savea fit in? Nowhere cannot be the answer, because Ardie Savea is too good. It's a dilemma alright.