Departing All Black leaves NZ playing 'best rugby of his career'
It won’t necessarily happen overnight, but Brett Cameron’s move to Japan will surely eventually be acknowledged for the loss that it is.
The one-test All Black signed a one-year deal with Kamaishi Seawaves earlier this year after he couldn’t lock in a Super Rugby gig with any of the NZ franchises.
Cameron was a surprise call-up for the 2018 end-of-year tour and notched up a handful of minutes against Japan after replacing Richie Mo’unga. Since then, Cameron has struggled to earn game time with the Crusaders and even found himself slipping down the pecking order with Canterbury.
As such, the 25-year-old moved back to his home province of Manawatu for this year’s NPC campaign and with regular opportunities in the No 10 jersey, Cameron’s play flourished. With Cameron at the helm, Manawatu progressed to the knockout stages of the Championship division but the playmaker was ruled out on the day of the semi-final, and the Turbos fell to Otago.
While Cameron’s rich form piqued the interests of a number of Super Rugby sides, Cameron had already committed to Kamaishi and will spend the formative stages of 2022 in the northeast of Japan.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, panellist Bryn Hall, a former teammate of Cameron’s at the Crusaders, has lamented the playmaker’s shift and named the former All Black as his top player of the NPC season.
“I thought Brett Cameron was outstanding for Manawatu, even though he couldn’t play in the finals, which I think was probably a little bit of the difference in that Championship [semi],” Hall said.
“He was down in Canterbury with the Crusaders and things didn’t go his way with [him] not being able to play as much as he would’ve wanted. But look, I think his performances, more so in his running game, his ability to be able to game-manage and taking his learnings from the Crusaders and his one test with the All Blacks, I thought he was definitely the stand-out player for me.
“It’s a touch unfortunate that he’s had to go to Japan because I think he was playing the best rugby of his career and it’s unfortunate to see him go.”
Hall also travelled to Japan as a squad member on the 2018 end-of-year tour but didn’t get to take the field for the All Blacks.
Brett Cameron is in career-best form for Manawatu and while the one-test All Black will head to Japan following the provincial season, he's not yet calling time on his dreams of once again representing NZ. #AllBlacks @ManawatuRugby
?? @TomVinicombehttps://t.co/ASbg7e9JzB
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) October 20, 2021
James Parsons, himself a former All Black, also anointed a Championship playmaker as his MVP of the season.
“I ended up going with Stevie Perofeta from Taranaki. He was just sensational from game one, all the way through to the final,” Parsons said. “His ability off the tee but also his ability to inject himself from the back was exceptional and really put Taranaki on a 10 and 0 run with a Championship to boot, so I think he was the best performing player in the NPC.”
Perofeta has found a permanent home for himself at fullback this year after flitting between the No 15 and No 10 jerseys over the past few seasons, and the 24-year-old has gone from strength to strength over the course of the season. While he lost hist starting position at the Blues to youngster Zarn Sullivan during Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, Perofeta could enter 2022 in pole position to wrestle the role back, with Sullivan spending the bulk of the NPC sidelined due to Auckland’s Covid-enforced absence from the competition.
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments