Perofeta to get first crack at first-five role
Teenager Stephen Perofeta will get the first crack in the Taranaki No 10 jersey after he was named to start in the pre-season fixture against Counties Manukau in Otorohanga on Saturday.
The New Zealand Under-20 rep is one of several new faces in the Taranaki side that will be led by club championship winning captain Mitchell Crosswell.
Queensland Reds lock Ben Matwijow has also been named while former Counties Manukau second five-eighth Johnny Fa’auli, who has played a club season with Coastal, gets his first game for the province with Isaia Tuifua ruled out because of illness.
Taranaki coach Colin Cooper said they had originally planned to start Southern pivot Daniel Brooks against Counties Manukau but he had been ruled out for the season after he ruptured his patella tendon at training.
‘‘It was a bit of a freak thing, he Beaudein Waaka, Jackson Ormond, Pomare Samupo, Johnny Fa’auli, Manasa Mataele, Stephen Perofeta, Kylem O’Donnell, Toa Halafihi, Berny Hall, Mitchell Crosswell (c), Ben Matwijow, Leighton Price, Reuben O’Neill, Sione Lea, Jared Proffit. Reserves, Asa Sorovaki, Harry Jones, Zane Neill, Leon Power, Micaiah Torrance-Reid, Adrian Wyrill, Dylan Juffermans, Cody Whitaker, Blake Hohaia, Trinity Spooner-Neera.
just went up for a high ball and came down and he’s done that.’’
Although he had limited time with Clifton because of his national commitments, Perofeta, 19, has impressed Cooper and his coaching staff with his work through the year after he moved north from Wanganui Collegiate to join the union’s academy.
He is an obvious talent with the only concern raised by Cooper being his natural quietness.
Some good performances throughout the pre-season campaign, when Taranaki also play Hawke’s Bay and Waikato, would see Perofeta right in the mix to play a role through the national provincial championship, although Crusaders first fiveeighth Marty McKenzie remains a clear stand-out to lead the position.
Beaudein Waaka, who has also returned after he was left out of the New Zealand Sevens squad for Rio, remains another option but would start against Counties Manukau at fullback.
The arrival of Matwijow in the province has created some inter- est, with Cooper pleased they could bring him up to speed early with their expectations, the new ruck laws and his new team-mates.
Returning lock Leon Power, who has plied his trade in Australia and Europe since leaving Taranaki, has been named on the bench.
With Mike Kainga being called into the Hurricanes, Reuben O’Neill starts at tighthead, with Cooper saying it was what he and fellow prop Jared Profit deserved given their club form.
Sione Lea will run on at hooker, with Cooper confirming they had not re-signed former All Black Hika Elliot.
Berny Hall, who returned from Europe more than a month ago, starts at openside alng with fellow loose forwards Crosswell and Toa Halafihi.
Taranaki team to play Counties Manukau: