Ex-All Black explains why Blues No. 10 Stephen Perofeta looks 'unsettled'
Rugby World Cup-winning All Black Mils Muliaina has suggested the Blues should potentially give Zarn Sullivan goal-kicking duties this week after Stephen Perofeta’s shocker in round four.
Perofeta, who before the season was deemed to be a two-horse race for the All Blacks’ No. 10 jersey, missed at least a few shots at goal during the Blues’ 12-10 win over the Waratahs.
The playmaker’s goal-kicking woes somewhat reflected the performance of the Blues as a collective as they struggled to find their groove after losing Rieko Ioane early to a HIA.
Ioane, 27, has been ruled out of the Blues’ first home match of the season with the Aucklanders set to host arch-rivals the Crusaders at Eden Park on Saturday evening.
With the Blues forced to make another change in the midfield, All Blacks great Mils Muliaina has explained why Stephen Perofeta has looked “a little bit unsettled” this season.
“Only in the beginning of the year the fact that really it’s between him and Damian McKenzie for the All Blacks,” Muliaina said on Stan Sports’ The Call Up.
He hasn’t really had, I suppose… he’s always had different guys in there (the midfield). Him and (Finlay) Christie had to sort of find their way against the Hurricanes.
“He seems a little bit unsettled, unsettled with the guys outside him – Byrce Heem now backs up once again. He does, he doesn’t seem as cohesive as perhaps he wants to be.
“I think the more they get those combinations together the better he’ll become and perhaps one of those things is handing the young fella Zarn Sullivan those kicking opportunities rather than having that sort of pressure on him.”
Playing at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, the Blues had to wait 35 minutes to score their first points with prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi crashing over for a much-needed try.
The visitors led by just four points heading into the break, and while they struck first through Zarn Sullivan midway through the second, it was a tense matchup throughout.
Perofeta missed shots at goal in the 55th, 58th and 61st minutes while the NSW Waratahs rallied in front of their home supporters, eventually scoring a try with two minutes to play.
But the Blues hung on in the end by a slim margin of just two points.
“Perhaps it was an ugly game to win but they’re still winning and that’s the key factor,” Muliaina explained.
“They seem, to me, a little bit disjointed in how they actually want to play, whether they want to play the tight stuff. But they’re also making mistakes in crucial moments.
“Perhaps a little bit of leadership, Patrick Tuipulotu coming back in, Angus Ta’avao – Tuipulotu I think is playing his 100th game. Ricky Riccitelli, we know how good he is when it comes to set-piece time.
“Losing Rieko Ioane, they’ve still got a steady backline in terms of bringing AJ Lam in there, he understands also what’s needed to connect those midfielders with the outside backs.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments