Why Perenara is player of year
My New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year? TJ Perenara, with the Oscar for best All Black in a supporting role going to Brad Weber, Angus Ta’avao, Richie Mo’unga and Ardie Savea.
Oh, I forgot to mention my criteria, or to be more precise, what the criteria were not. Passing, running, kicking, scrummaging, tackling and mauling were not key factors.
And that’s due to passing, running, kicking, scrummaging, tackling and mauling having bugger all to do with helping make New Zealand a better place to live, or doing it sporadically – for about 80 minutes, and a couple of days past that.
What does make New Zealand a better place to live is standing up for ideals in the face of criticism, showing young men and women how people SHOULD behave.
It’s using your status as an All Black to help those less fortunate, supporting those on the sidelines of society for their sexual orientation, their mental health problems, their race, culture, gender.
And 2019 saw a wave of All Blacks doing just that, which was a refreshing change from the stoic ‘‘get over it’’ Kiwi culture.
In the past – and still, in most cases – players tended to keep their thoughts and feelings matters such as society and politics to themselves.
Once upon a relatively recent time, All Blacks ignored travesties such as apartheid in favour of playing rugby in South Africa, sneaking out of the country to do so.
When Perenara picked up best try at the World Rugby Awards, he deflected the attention from himself, to the now racially diverse Springboks, a side in which five languages were spoken.
On his return to New Zealand, Perenara backed up his desire to see a first gay All Black, a stance outlined in Express Magazine last month.
He has been a strong advocate of the LGBTQIA+ community, telling Express Magazine rugby is ready for a first gay All Black.
‘‘When it does happen – it’s a situation that’s welcomed by everyone, and that it’s OK,’’ he said at Auckland airport.
‘‘That’s the environment that we want as All Blacks. That’s the environment that we should strive for as New Zealanders – that people can be themselves in whatever environment they choose to succeed in.’’
Just like country band Dixie Chicks were told to ‘‘shut up and sing’’ when lead singer Natalie Maines criticised US president George W Bush, Perenara has had ‘‘shut up and pass’’ style critics, radio host Sean Plunket one.
‘‘You pass the ball very well, but I am not interested in your views on all these other things,’’ Plunket said.
Yeah, nah. It’s about time the All Blacks were presented as well-rounded individuals, with their hearts and souls embedded in the breadth of the communities they represent.
So well done Perenara for thinking of South Africa ahead of yourself, for supporting those who have been the brunt of homophobic rugby jokes, for offering an alternative view to that of Israel Folau.
Well done Brad Weber, for the very same Folau stance, for your gay pride rainbow laces, and for the audacious reverse pass that set up Perenara for try of the year.
Well done Angus Ta’avao for showing props can have a sense of humour, you need not always be an unsmiling giant.
And thanks for putting yourself on the parapet to be shot at by donning the antihomophobia rainbow laces for the Chiefs.
Richie Mo’unga, too, has laced his boots with rainbows and has been open about the mental pain of losing to England.
And now to Ardie Savea. Superb on and off the field; who is to say his work in the mental health area and fashion is not a driving factor in his world class on-field play.
Could it be happy players play well?
Look and learn, rugby fans. Here’s predicting these five All Blacks in coming years contribute to improving New Zealand society on a level well past what happens on a grassy rectangle with goalposts at either end.