Perenara enjoying being back with ABs
AUCKLAND: TJ Perenara appears in a positive place as he approaches potentially his first start for the All Blacks in almost a year.
This year could have evolved very differently for Perenara, who could have lined up in the NRL finals in Queensland this weekend rather than featuring for the All Blacks.
Two months ago Perenara was on the cusp of signing with the Sydney Roosters. Having made the call to stick with rugby union, he feels vindicated by events that unfolded since returning home from his sixmonth stint in Japan.
Perenara was deemed ineligible for the All Blacks’ three tests in July until he played some form of rugby in New Zealand, which he did for his hometown Porirua club side Norths.
‘‘Coming back and playing club rugby with some of my best mates and my nephew was really cool, and to be able to give back to my club at this point in my career I was really grateful for that,’’ Perenara said from Perth yesterday.
Despite the strong lure of testing his skills as a dummy half in the NRL, Perenara was immediately satisfied with his decision when he linked with the Hurricanes in May.
‘‘It was cemented when I came home, out of isolation, and trained with the Hurricanes. Being back in the facilities, around the team that cemented the decision and let me know I'd made the right call.’’
Fast forward to last week and Perenara came off the bench for the second time this season with the All Blacks. His 26minute cameo after replacing Brad Weber included a stunning tryassist that featured an intercept, two right foot steps and a left footed crossfield kick to send George Bridge over for the All Blacks' sixth try against the Wallabies.
The All Blacks have made no secret of their intent to rotate their three halfbacks — Weber, Perenara and Finlay Christie — during the Rugby Championship in Aaron Smith's absence.
Weber impressed in his start against the Wallabies with largely crisp delivery and sharp decisionmaking but with the Pumas looming on Sunday, Perenara's combative, defensive qualities are expected to be preferred from the outset.
Perenara last started for the All Blacks in the loss to the Wallabies in Brisbane 10 months ago but he knows the Pumas well, with five of his 17 appearances in the No 9 jersey coming against the Argentinians, who arrive in Australia following successive losses to the Springboks in South Africa. —