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TJ Perenara to end over 450 day wait in Hurricanes' last pre-season match

14 Feb 2024

TJ Perenara looks on during a Hurricanes Super Rugby Pacific training session at NZCIS on January 19, 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara has been named to return to the rugby field for the first time since November 2022 ahead of the Hurricanes’ pre-season clash with Moana Pasifika on Friday.

Perenara, 32, was helped from the field at Twickenham more than 450 days ago after rupturing his Achilles in the dying stages of New Zealand’s thrilling draw with England.

The 80-Test scrum-half had only just returned to the international arena after receiving a call-up to the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour squad a week before the 31-23 win over Scotland at Murrayfield.

But Perenara, who will have to challenge All Black Cam Roigard for the No. 9 jersey at the Hurricanes this season, has appeared supremely confident during his injury rehab.

See you soon pic.twitter.com/WQT0Zgf6yz
— Hurricanes Rugby (@Hurricanesrugby) August 15, 2023

Last December, Perenara spoke about how the black jersey is “a big part of my motivation” to return with the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific 2024.

Well, now he has his chance. For the first time since suffering the devastating injury in England, Perenara has been named in the No. 9 jersey ahead of the Hurricanes’ final pre-season clash.

Perenara joins rising star Aidan Morgan in the halves, and the team certainly packs a punch across the board as they look to bounce back from last week’s emphatic loss to the Highlanders.

Hooker Asafo Aumua will captain the side and is joined by enforcers Xavier Numia and Pasilio Tosi in the front row. Caleb Delany and Isaia Walker-Leawere round out the tight five.

Devan Flanders, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Peter Lakai make up a formidable loose forward trio, with Perenara and Morgan the next names on the team sheet.

Outside of Perenara and Morgan, Reon Paul and Billy Proctor will link up in the midfield. They’ve got some exciting attacking weapons outside of them, too, including wings Salesi Rayasi and Josh Moorby, and All Blacks XV representative Ruben Love out the back.

Pouri Rakete-Stones, Jordie Barret, Brett Cameron and Kini Naholo are among the big-name players listed in the reserves for the pre-season match.

The match between the Canes and Moana Pasifika will get underway at 2:30 pm NZT at NZCIS in Wellington and entry is free.

Hurricanes team to take on Moana Pasifika

Xavier Numia, 2. Asafo Aumua (c), 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Devan Flanders, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Peter Lakai, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Aidan Morgan, 11. Salesi Rayasi, 12. Reon Paul, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Josh Moorby, 15. Ruben Love

Impact

James O’Reilly, 17. Raymond Tuputupu, 18. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 19. Tevita Mafileo, 20. Tyrel Lomax, 21. James Tucker, 22. Justin Sangster, 23. Ben Grant, 24. TK Howden, 25. Veveni Lasaqa, 26. Brayden Iose, 27. Kyle Preston, 28. Jordie Barrett, 29. Brett Cameron, 30. Jordi Viljoen, 31. Riley Higgins, 32. Kini Naholo, 33. Daniel Sinkinson, 34. Losi Filipo, 35. Harry Godfrey

Comments

1 Comment

Andrew 459 days ago

Useful backup at 7 for Kirifi. Not a 9.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 7 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 7 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 7 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 7 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 7 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 7 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 7 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍