Mate’s death put snub into perspective for Perenara
‘‘When I lost one of my best mates this year, unfortunately to a heart attack, and if I put that next to missing out on the All Blacks team, it doesn’t even compete.’’ TJ Perenara
When it appeared Ian Foster had lifted the drawbridge on his All Blacks career, TJ Perenara put things in perspective by reflecting on the sudden death of one of his best mates.
Having been ignored throughout the season, halfback Perenara’s international career is on the cusp of being resurrected after he left the All Blacks XV tour party to join the All Blacks ahead of the test against Scotland in Edinburgh on Monday morning (NZ time).
Few expected this outcome. Perenara’s All Blacks career looked to have stalled on 78 test caps when coach Foster left him out of his squads this year, an indication he was looking ahead to the World Cup in France next year.
Now Foster has flung Perenara a lifeline.
The decision to send Brad Weber, who joined the squad as a replacement at the start of the trip because Folau Fakatava had been scratched due to a knee injury, back to the All Blacks XV means Perenara now joins Aaron Smith and Finlay Christie as the third No 9 in the top squad.
Perenara says there was no bitterness when he was repeatedly overlooked by the selectors.
‘‘You go through different things in life that put footy in perspective as well,’’ Perenara said. ‘‘I think I said it earlier in the year, when I missed out on the Irish series it wasn’t the worst thing I have been through this year.
‘‘When I lost one of my best mates this year, unfortunately to a heart attack, and if I put that next to missing out on the All Blacks team, it doesn’t even compete.
‘‘As you get older you go through life’s challenges – it puts things into perspective for you.’’
The recall of Perenara is another fascinating twist in a year loaded with drama and fluctuating fortunes on and off the field for the All Blacks; in addition to Foster almost being sacked, there was a reshuffle of the assistant coaches and the team, of course, endured a wild ride with their results.
Despite winning the Rugby Championship and retaining the Bledisloe Cup, they suffered the 2-1 series loss to Ireland and lost to Argentina in New Zealand for the first time.
Perenara, meanwhile, was keeping his head down; he enjoyed the chance to represent the Māori All Blacks for the first time, to be coached by his dad at the Norths club, and to win the NPC and the
Ranfurly Shield with Wellington.
Despite the welcome distractions, the 30-year-old didn’t enjoy seeing the All Blacks struggle.
‘‘Yeah, it was hard. Not being able to be around the boys and not being able to have an impact on the environment was probably the most difficult thing.
‘‘Whether that is on the field or through the training week, you can have an impact. You can be around the boys, you can float ideas around . . . ’’’
Perenara joins the squad during one of their happiest periods for 2022. After a poor start, when they lost four of their first five matches, the All Blacks have now won five straight.
Whether Perenara will play
Scotland hinges on whether Foster rests Smith ahead of the tour finale against England in London a week later.
Scotland-born Christie, who moved to New Zealand when he was seven, may start at Murrayfield after a modest performance in the 38-31 win over Japan in Tokyo on October 29.
Having signed with NZ Rugby until after the World Cup, Perenara said he never felt like asking for an early release when he was not wanted by the All Blacks.
‘‘No, I didn’t. I always believed I was playing really good rugby. And I know what I have to offer to rugby here in New Zealand and it is something that I am still really passionate about.