No coach, no problem for Flutey

assist with the unstructured attack.

Flutey’s fingerprints have been all over the Highlanders’ slick lineout moves this year, although the former Ma¯ori All Blacks, England and British and Irish Lions star was quick to deflect any praise, pointing to the side’s ‘‘collaborative’’ approach.

Yet, the Highlanders are under no illusions that they need to improve after a Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign that had some highlights but was ultimately disappointing.

A 41-22 loss to the Hurricanes in the final round represented a poor finish to the competition, and their well-documented injury woes have put the Highlanders on the back foot before the clash against Brad Thorn’s champion Reds side.

‘‘We had a good review from players and coaches around a lot of parts of our game where we do need to improve,’’ Flutey said.

‘‘Right from tactical opportunities that we are potentially missing on the field, and also the way we go into a week and prepare as players. They were a couple of points that we touched on.’’

The Highlanders will name their side for the Reds today, with most focus on whether Nehe Milner-skudder holds on to the No 15 jersey.

Milner-skudder made a successful comeback against the Hurricanes two weeks ago, showing glimpses of his undoubted class.

TJ Perenara is ready and willing, but will require a Hurricanes injury to make an immediate return in Super Rugby Transtasman and become eligible for All Blacks selection in July.

The 69-test All Blacks halfback confirmed he was heading home from Japan, re-signing with New Zealand Rugby and the Hurricanes on Monday until the end of 2023 and the World Cup in France.

Perenara will return to Wellington as soon as possible after his Japan Top League commitments ended last weekend, eager to reunite with wife Greer and their daughter, Amaia, who left Japan on January 30 amid Covid-19 health concerns.

After completing the required 14 days in managed isolation, Perenara wants to rejoin the Hurricanes but is constricted by Super Rugby rules.

‘‘I’m sure he’ll be getting on a plane pretty quickly, and then he’ll have quarantine. In terms of being available to play for us, we would need an injury for him to be able to come into our squad. That’s how it works for everybody else and same for TJ,’’ said Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee.

‘‘We’re also really happy with how the guys have been, the young halfbacks, but if we had an injury obviously TJ would be a strong contender.’’

Luke Campbell, Jonathan Taumateine and Cam Roigard are the three Hurricanes halfbacks in the squad, the latter covering for Jamie Booth who was also named in the initial 38 but hasn’t played after breaking a leg last year.

Perenara, speaking to former team-mate James Marshall on the What A Lad podcast, said he would need an injury and then to play for the Hurricanes in the next five weeks to be eligible for the All Blacks’ tests against Fiji in July. Perenara’s 140 matches for the Canes are a club record.

‘‘I don’t know if you have to swap like for like ... whether a prop goes down, I don’t know whether I could come in. I’ll make myself available and I’ll be ready to go if the opportunity does arise,’’ Perenara said.

‘‘I’d love to, but if not I’d love to be playing club rugby for Norths as well. Either way, being back home and training with the boys and either play in that competition or for Norths would be cool.’’

And the All Blacks?

‘‘I’m not sure for that July series. I think the rules are you have to play in the New Zealand professional competition to be eligible unless you’ve written it in your contract.

‘‘So I have to play in a competition before being eligible for the All Blacks. If I do come in as injury cover I guess it might, then if not I don’t think so.’’

The NPC for Wellington would be Perenara’s next chance to activate his All Blacks eligibility for later in the year.

Perenara told Marshall there he was weighing up three options: a return to New Zealand, an NRL deal with the Sydney Roosters and a return to Japan, where another team was showing interest.

Perenara said he had ongoing conversations with Roosters coach Trent Robinson and informed him of the decision on Sunday, having received training programmes to