As expected, the Hurricanes have returned the world's best player, the world's best hooker, and the 2015 rookie of the year to their starting line-up for their first home clash against the Melbourne Rebels in Wellington.
There is an altogether more authoritative look about the Hurricanes' 15 now, so it comes as a surprise when coach Chris Boyd confirmed that nine or 10 are unavailable due to injury, including luckless No 8 Blade Thomson, a clutch of crocked locks and halfbacks, concussed prop Reggie Goodes, plus Cory Jane, who has a bulging disc in his neck, meaning he was a late scratching from the Tokyo training run.
Incoming are, as planned, Beauden Barrett and captain Dane Coles, neither of whom, off the bench, were able to steer the Hurricanes to a strong, slick finish against the Sunwolves, while Milner-Skudder would have played in round one were it not for a tight hamstring.
"I'm not happy that we've got nine or 10 injuries, but what we've got I'm happy with," says Boyd. "At the end of the day, we have to learn to live without anybody. It's a physical game and you end up taking dings, so guys get thrust into different situations. While it's great to have Nehe, Beauden and Dane back, we'd back ourselves to make do with whatever we have got."
That was certainly the case in the 2016 playoffs, where the Hurricanes finished with four rookies in their tight five at stages.
