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