Perenara’s return draws closer for Canes
TJ Perenara has flown to Melbourne to spend the week in camp with the Hurricanes as the All Blacks halfback edges closer to his long-awaited Super Rugby Pacific comeback.
The 80-test veteran has been sidelined with a long-term Achilles injury suffered on the end-of-year tour in 2022.
Perenara has not been named to play the Reds in Melbourne on Sunday but has been integrated back into the environment with a view to playing against the Blues in round three.
Coach Clark Laidlaw said Perenara remained on schedule to return at Sky Stadium next weekend after playing close to an hour for the Hurricanes’ development team last weekend.
“He’s joined us here in Melbourne and that was always the plan, to bring him over and be part of the group as we prepare,” Laidlaw said.
“His experience and knowledge already in the meetings today have been invaluable and all things being equal he will be available to play after this week.
“He played for the development team last weekend and it went really well. He got 50-55 minutes and there were no ill-effects so the plan we put out in January seems to be going to plan so far.”
Current All Black Cam Roigard has been named to start in the No 9 jersey after shaking off a minor calf injury, with Jordi Viljoen dropping to the bench after a memorable debut during the Hurricanes’ emphatic 44-14 win against the Western Force last weekend.
Roigard was the breakout star of the Canes’ 2023 campaign and while Viljoen’s benching may seem harsh after he scored a try, Laidlaw was delighted to have his first-choice halfback back to full fitness. Roigard will be joined in the starting 15 by All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax.
“Cam’s an All Black and played really well last year and if he hadn’t been injured he would’ve started the season, so as pleased as we were with Jordi, we’re really excited to have Cam back.’’
The Hurricanes’ depth will be tested in the loose forwards, with Du’Plessis Kirifi (ankle) and Devan Flanders (shoulder) joining captain Brad Shields (foot) on the casualty list, compounding star All Black Ardie Savea’s departure to Japan.
TK Howden, Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose will form a new-look loose forward trio, with promising Bay of Plenty flanker Veveni Lasaqa poised to make his debut off the bench after an impressive showing for the development team.
But despite the key absences, Laidlaw said he had faith in the players he had named as the Hurricanes look to start the season with back-to-back wins for the second year in a row.
“To have Brayden and TK, a couple of Manawatū team-mates, come in, and Pete will shift across to seven, where he’s played a lot of rugby, we do have genuine strength and depth in the loose forwards,” Laidlaw said.
The Reds have not beaten the Hurricanes since 2013 but are coming off a bonus-point win of their own, after stunning the Waratahs 40-22 in round one.