Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Tamaiti Williams offers heartfelt perspective on departure of TJ Perenara

TJ Perenara and Tamaiti Williams of the All Blacks. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Two All Blacks icons will bid their respective careers in the black jersey farewell this weekend, with loose forward Sam Cane and halfback TJ Perenara each taking their talents to the land of the rising sun from 2025 onwards.

ADVERTISEMENT

The pair boast nearly 200 Test caps between them, and were both a part of New Zealand’s victorious 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign as 23-year-olds. Beauden Barrett will remain as the last member of the team with a World Cup win to his name.

Their experience and leadership have rubbed off on the new generation coming through the ranks, including 24-year-old prop Tamaiti Williams.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

Williams, a man of few words, is one the young guns in Scott Robertsons’s All Blacks squad who has staked his claim in the starting XV in 2024, and as a proud Maori with Ngapuhi lineage, has formed a special admiration for his veteran teammates.

“I’ll be pretty emotional when they leave. What TJ’s done for Maori people in New Zealand and the way he helps others is inspiring to me. Sammy Cane’s the same, he was our captain last year and I can only think of one way to send them out: with a dominant performance,” the 140kg prop told media from Turin, Italy, as fellow youngster Wallace Sititi sat beside him nodding in agreement.

“I’m sure they’re probably going to hold their emotions until the end of the week. They’re walking around smiling today, I think they’re just soaking it in. Hopefully, we can do a job for them.”

It’s yet to be revealed whether or not the pair will suit up for the upcoming Italy Test. Questions remain over Cane’s fitness after suffering a gnarly flesh wound on his forehead against Ireland, while Perenara is yet to see minutes in the Autumn Nations Series as youngsters Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima are favoured in the matchday 23.

ADVERTISEMENT

Team Form

Last 5 Games

1
Wins
4
3
Streak
1
10
Tries Scored
20
-82
Points Difference
74
3/5
First Try
3/5
3/5
First Points
0/5
3/5
Race To 10 Points
4/5

The team is building a new identity and the changing of the guard continues after a 2023 exodus which saw household names like Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Dane Coles and Aaron Smith hang up their international boots.

But with new a coaching cohort at the helm, Williams suggests there’s a real growth mindset in the environment. The prop was emphatic when asked if the side are tracking well after some disappointing results in 2024, saying “of course” they are.

“I’ll back my boys and the coaching staff any day of the week. I guess for us, in my second year and (Wallace Sititi’s) first year, what we’ve learned alone as players is pretty cool bro.

“There has been a lot of change, but everyone in here has embraced it. There’s no excuses and when you wake up in the morning and you can’t wait to go to work, your team’s in a good place.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Related

While Sititi wasn’t asked the same question about the departing duo, he did speak on Cane’s influence within the All Blacks group and on himself personally when it became apparent the former captain would be sidelined for last week’s France Test.

“He’s a big loss for us this weekend, he holds a lot of respect in our team. He’s a strong figure in our team and our country, so to not have him out there is a big loss for us in terms of leadership as well as experience,” Sititi told media in Paris.

“It’s just something that we’re going to have to deal with and we’ll do our best to do him justice in his absence.”

He went on to elaborate on Cane’s leadership in the Chiefs environment, where the two first connected.

“When I went in for my first preseason with the Chiefs, he’s someone that’s calm-headed, loves to chat as well so it was really easy getting along with him. He’s just somebody you gravitate towards, someone you would follow into war and somebody you would die for.

“he’s just a good person first and foremost and his leadership is top-notch.”

Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now 

ADVERTISEMENT

O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 5 | Making Waves

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Krakow | Leg 3 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series | Full Day Replay

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

4 Comments
S
SM 159 days ago

Cane Tj and Reiko plus Dmac what's the point, we wasted a hole season.

S
SC 159 days ago

Codie Taylor was on the RWC 2015 winning team in addition to Beauden Barrett.

C
Cantab 159 days ago

Sadly the time comes to all players when they must gracefully bow out. Sayonara and thank you to Cane & Perenara, your contributions to All Black rugby have been great

T
Tk 159 days ago

Two players who haven't always been first choice in their positions but have embodied the "team first" attitude and have always been there when needed.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
Ashley Carson 2 hours ago
Former All Black Craig Newby lands head coach role in England

Life can unravel in an instant. For me, that moment came when deceitful cryptocurrency brokers vanished with £40,000 of my savings, a devastating blow that left me paralyzed by shame and despair. The aftermath was a fog of sleepless nights, self-doubt, and a crushing sense of betrayal. I questioned every choice, wondering how I’d fallen for such a scheme. Hope felt like a luxury I no longer deserved. Then, Tech Cyber Force Recovery emerged like a compass in a storm. Skeptical yet desperate, I reached out, half-expecting another dead end. What I found, however, was a team that radiated both expertise and empathy. From our first conversation, they treated my crisis not as a case file, but as a human tragedy. Their professionalism was matched only by their compassion, a rare combination in the often impersonal world of finance.

What happened next defied logic. Within 72 hours of sharing my story, they traced the labyrinth of blockchain transactions, outmaneuvering the scammers with surgical precision. When their email arrived, “Funds recovered, secure and intact,” I wept. It wasn’t just the money; it was the validation that justice could prevail. Tech Cyber Force Recovery didn’t just restore my finances, they resurrected my dignity. But their impact ran deeper. They demystified the recovery process, educating me without judgment. Their transparency became a lifeline, transforming my fear into understanding. Where I saw chaos, they saw patterns; where I felt powerless, they instilled agency. Today, I’m rebuilding not just my savings, but my trust in humanity. Tech Cyber Force Recovery taught me that vulnerability isn’t weakness, and that seeking help is an act of courage. To those still trapped in the aftermath of fraud: miracles exist. They wear no capes, but they wield algorithms and integrity like superheroes. To the extraordinary Tech Cyber Force Recovery team, your work is more than technical prowess. It’s alchemy, turning despair into resilience. You gave me more than my funds; you gave me my future. May your light guide countless others through their darkest nights. From the depths of my heart: Thank you.

Consult Tech Cyber Force Recovery for help.

MAIL.. Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.com

1 Go to comments
A
Ashley Carson 2 hours ago
Wafer steals the show as Ireland ease to victory over winless Wales

Life can unravel in an instant. For me, that moment came when deceitful cryptocurrency brokers vanished with £40,000 of my savings, a devastating blow that left me paralyzed by shame and despair. The aftermath was a fog of sleepless nights, self-doubt, and a crushing sense of betrayal. I questioned every choice, wondering how I’d fallen for such a scheme. Hope felt like a luxury I no longer deserved. Then, Tech Cyber Force Recovery emerged like a compass in a storm. Skeptical yet desperate, I reached out, half-expecting another dead end. What I found, however, was a team that radiated both expertise and empathy. From our first conversation, they treated my crisis not as a case file, but as a human tragedy. Their professionalism was matched only by their compassion, a rare combination in the often impersonal world of finance.

What happened next defied logic. Within 72 hours of sharing my story, they traced the labyrinth of blockchain transactions, outmaneuvering the scammers with surgical precision. When their email arrived, “Funds recovered, secure and intact,” I wept. It wasn’t just the money; it was the validation that justice could prevail. Tech Cyber Force Recovery didn’t just restore my finances, they resurrected my dignity. But their impact ran deeper. They demystified the recovery process, educating me without judgment. Their transparency became a lifeline, transforming my fear into understanding. Where I saw chaos, they saw patterns; where I felt powerless, they instilled agency. Today, I’m rebuilding not just my savings, but my trust in humanity. Tech Cyber Force Recovery taught me that vulnerability isn’t weakness, and that seeking help is an act of courage. To those still trapped in the aftermath of fraud: miracles exist. They wear no capes, but they wield algorithms and integrity like superheroes. To the extraordinary Tech Cyber Force Recovery team, your work is more than technical prowess. It’s alchemy, turning despair into resilience. You gave me more than my funds; you gave me my future. May your light guide countless others through their darkest nights. From the depths of my heart: Thank you.

Consult Tech Cyber Force Recovery for help.

MAIL.. Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.com

0 Go to comments
A
Ashley Carson 4 hours ago
Is the All Blacks captaincy right for Scott Barrett?

Life can unravel in an instant. For me, that moment came when deceitful cryptocurrency brokers vanished with £40,000 of my savings, a devastating blow that left me paralyzed by shame and despair. The aftermath was a fog of sleepless nights, self-doubt, and a crushing sense of betrayal. I questioned every choice, wondering how I’d fallen for such a scheme. Hope felt like a luxury I no longer deserved. Then, Tech Cyber Force Recovery emerged like a compass in a storm. Skeptical yet desperate, I reached out, half-expecting another dead end. What I found, however, was a team that radiated both expertise and empathy. From our first conversation, they treated my crisis not as a case file, but as a human tragedy. Their professionalism was matched only by their compassion, a rare combination in the often impersonal world of finance.

What happened next defied logic. Within 72 hours of sharing my story, they traced the labyrinth of blockchain transactions, outmaneuvering the scammers with surgical precision. When their email arrived, “Funds recovered, secure and intact,” I wept. It wasn’t just the money; it was the validation that justice could prevail. Tech Cyber Force Recovery didn’t just restore my finances, they resurrected my dignity. But their impact ran deeper. They demystified the recovery process, educating me without judgment. Their transparency became a lifeline, transforming my fear into understanding. Where I saw chaos, they saw patterns; where I felt powerless, they instilled agency. Today, I’m rebuilding not just my savings, but my trust in humanity. Tech Cyber Force Recovery taught me that vulnerability isn’t weakness, and that seeking help is an act of courage. To those still trapped in the aftermath of fraud: miracles exist. They wear no capes, but they wield algorithms and integrity like superheroes. To the extraordinary Tech Cyber Force Recovery team, your work is more than technical prowess. It’s alchemy, turning despair into resilience. You gave me more than my funds; you gave me my future. May your light guide countless others through their darkest nights. From the depths of my heart: Thank you.

Consult Tech Cyber Force Recovery for help.

MAIL.. Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.com

7 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Fissler Confidential: England and France 10s, Lions centre on move Fissler Confidential: England and France 10s, Lions centre on move
Search