Perofeta: We’ve left old habits behind us
Stephen Perofeta believes the Blues have had their ‘‘wakeup call’’ in Super Rugby Aotearoa and are primed for a strong finish to this year’s competition.
Perofeta and the Blues have returned from their second bye week for an important three-game finish to the regular season that they hope will net them a spot in the inaugural final to be staged on May 8.
But to get there the Blues are probably going to have to win at least two of their three remaining fixtures, starting with Friday’s visit to the unpredictable Highlanders in Dunedin. After that they head to the Crusaders for a clash that could potentially decide top spot, before wrapping up the qualifying rounds at home against the Chiefs.
Right now the Blues hold the inside running for second spot on 3-2 and 14 competition points. But the Chiefs sit just two points back, and with the same amount of matches remaining, while the Highlanders cannot be ruled out either on 10 points, though probably need to win both of their remaining matches to have a shot.
Perofeta, who has been making a solid fist of fullback all season for the Blues, feels like his side is ready to go to another level over the business end of the competition.
‘‘We’re in good stead,’’ he said after an at-times feisty training session at Alexandra Park yesterday, with skipper Patrick Tuipulotu still sitting out with the tender shoulder. ‘‘Early on, when we dropped those couple of games, there were a few bad old habits creeping in. We were reminded of the old times when we haven’t quite been there, so it was a good wakeup call to not let that complacency slip in.’’
The Blues have not quite been able to shake the inconsistencies of the bad old days, though there have been plenty of signs that this is a more mature, poised and patient team than the one that was a fixture in the basement of the New Zealand conference for the better part of a decade.
‘‘With the coaching we’ve got behind us and also the player growth we’ve had the last few years, I feel like we’re learning on the run. It’s good to see,’’ said Perofeta, who is likely to remain at fullback, where he has played the vast majority of his rugby the last two seasons.
And there are no excuses this week, coming off that bye. Perofeta revealed the Blues had even been spared a planned fitness test last Friday to leave just a little more in the tank for a round that could define their season.
Perofeta, a first five-eighth by instinct who still plays chunks of the game at first receiver under the Blues’ setup, feels the backline is still searching for full fluency. There have been excellent patches this season, such as the second half against the Hurricanes at Eden Park, but others where they’ve struggled to put it all together.
‘‘We’re still trying to find the right combinations and with the competiveness we have it’s a tough job for the coaches to choose who starts each week. That transfers on to the training field where we’re competing hard. We’ve got to earn our spots and that creates that competitive edge which is healthy.’’
Perofeta isn’t sure about his dropped goal proficiency in the heat of battle, but reckons he has the formula sussed: ‘‘Don’t let it get to sudden-death. Win it in 80 is the best way to go,’’ he adds with a smile.
After last week’s experience, the Highlanders would probably agree.