Better by half: Perenara eyes spot in ABS
RUGBY: TJ Perenara could be suited to the role of a pertinacious salesman if such a role was offered by his local playhouse theatre group.
Rather than quietly wander into the background, the Hurricanes halfback has perfected the art of repeatedly rattling the door that provides access to the All Blacks’ squad. And just in case noone has been listening, he has given it a couple of hefty kicks in recent times.
The 25-year-old just won’t go away. On Monday, when the All Blacks’ 32-man squad for the Rugby Championship is named, Perenara will know exactly where his All Blacks career is at.
To rewind this story a bit, Perenara was extremely close to being yesterday’s man when the All Blacks squad for the three-test series against Wales was announced on May 29. Aaron Smith and Tawera Kerr-barlow were picked as the halfbacks, and the only reason Perenara was included was because Kerr-barlow was recovering from injury.
To complicate matters even more the Chiefs’ Kerr Barlow, who he will mark in the Super Rugby semifinal in Wellington tonight, is fully fit. So, too, is Smith.
Three doesn’t go into two. Make that four if you want to add another Chiefs’ No 9, Brad Weber, to the list.
Maybe selectors Steve Hansen, Ian Foster and Grant Fox, who will retain the nucleus of the squad that completed the 3-0 series sweep over Wales in June, will wait to see which halfback handles the pressure best in the Cake Tin.
Perhaps it is no coincidence that the rise of Perenara, who has made 19 test appearances since 2014, has coincided with the Hurricanes’ rushing into full stride; his ability to boss his forwards, communicate with playmaker Beauden Barrett and run accurate support lines have been difficult to miss.
We already know there will be at least one change from the Welsh series. Although he won’t be available to play the first Bledisloe Cup
"Perenara was extremely close to being yesterday's man when the All Blacks squad for the three-test series against Wales was announced."
test against the Wallabies in Sydney on August 20, Sonny Bill Williams, who hasn’t played Super Rugby because of his commitment to the New Zealand sevens programme for Rio, is guaranteed passage.
Charlie Ngatai’s concussion issues are expected to rule him out, meaning Williams will be a straight swap. You wouldn’t select wing Julian Savea on current form, but, given the selectors
desire to respect his past deeds he is likely to be placed in the Special Project category.
If Dane Coles cannot shake his rib injury, an extra hooker may named. You could do worse than Ash Dixon.