RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
All Blacks squad shuffled for Wallabies opener
Wellington — All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has recalled prop Nepo Laulala and fleet-footed winger Nehe Milner-Skudder to his squad for the first time since 2015, while dropping Julian Savea for the Rugby Championship. Milner-Skudder, named World Rugby’s "Breakthrough Player" in 2015, was included in the 33-man squad released on Monday after missing much of the past 18 months following shoulder surgery in 2016 and a broken foot earlier this season. Chiefs tighthead Laulala played the last of his four Tests against Australia in 2015 before suffering a serious knee injury and will hope to break back into the side for the Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Sydney on August 19. Prolific try-scorer Savea is the notable omission from the Kieran Read-captained squad, losing out to Milner-Skudder, Israel Dagg and Waisake Naholo among the outside backs. With tighthead prop Charlie Faumuina and flyhalf Aaron Cruden heading to France, Hansen was forced to make changes from his s...
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