Where Stephen Perofeta fits into the All Blacks squad
Stephen Perofeta has been in great form for the table topping Blues team so far this season in the 15 jersey at fullback, forming a playmaking partnership with All Black first five Beauden Barrett.
Leading on from an impressive NPC season with Taranaki last year, Perofeta was awarded the Duane Monkley Medal awarded for the most valuable player in the competition. Whether at first five in Barrett’s absence or at fullback, Perofeta has been leaving his stamp on Blues matches.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Podcast, former All Black James Parsons and Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall shed light on Perofeta’s chances for All Black selection.
“I think he’s right in the selection mix,” Parsons said.
“Long term, when you make the All Blacks it’s not just about one season. He’s had a massive season with Taranaki and now he’s just bringing that game to Super Rugby level.
“And the confidence to step up with the grubber for Beaudy, he steps into first receiver with Beauden outside him…He’s definitely in great form and paying with confidence.
“What the pack is putting up front is allowing these guys time. When you have guys with that sort of pace and the ability and vision to see space and bend defences, it’s all due to the fact the big boys upfront are, cleaning bodies, sucking more defences in, and creating more space on the outside.”
Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall went up against the Blues and Perofeta just a fortnight ago and was able to analyse his game from the field and claimed it was ‘probably his best game’ for the Blues.
Perofeta’s form certainly seems to be trending in the right direction towards the pointy end of the Super Rugby season.
“I think he wasn’t that bad when he played us a couple of weeks ago. Considering that was probably his best game… in the Blues’ jersey,” Hall claimed.
“What was on the line that night and how he kind of game managed that game. The ways in which he influenced the game, I would say the game against us was probably his best.
Perofeta’s selection for Ian Foster’s first All Blacks squad of the season may depend on whether the All Blacks take a third first five or fullback.
Richie Mo’ounga and Beauden Barrett are ahead of him in the pecking order as All Blacks first fives, while Jordie Barrett and Will Jordan are likely to be selected ahead of Perofeta at fullback.
However, he may find himself selected as a third first five and fullback utility as dual cover across the two positions in a similar vein to how Damien McKenzie was at times utilised.
If the All Blacks decide to select a third first five in their squad, one test All Black Josh Ioane remains in contention. However, Ioane is still finding his form after recently returning from injury with the Chiefs.
The Chiefs have also started Kaleb Trask, Chase Tiatia and Emoni Narawa at fullback during the Super Rugby season, while the Highlanders have used Conor Garden-Bachop, Sam Gilbert and Mitch Hunt as their 10 and 15.
The Hurricanes have used Jordie Barrett, Ruben Love and Josh Moorby at fullback and Jackson Garden-Bachop and Aidan Morgan at first five.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 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…
2 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!
5 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 …
34 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 comments