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What's TJ Perenara done to upset the All Black selectors?

29th May, 2016
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Hurricanes star TJ Perenara is a host of players performing for the league leaders. (Photo: Waratahs media)
Roar Guru
29th May, 2016
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The most notable aspect of the 32-man All Blacks squad named this morning to face Wales was what was missing – a third halfback.

It appears the No.9 back-up back-up has been sacrificed to accommodate pint-sized fullback whizz kid Damian McKenzie, getting his first All Black call-up as the third custodian, behind vice captain Ben Smith and the resurgent Israel Dagg.

In the grand scheme it’s no big deal, because the All Blacks can easily whistle up injury cover in a home tour.

But it is surprising that the second halfback chosen is Tawera Kerr-Barlow – who has hardly been sighted this year for the Chiefs due to injury and the form of little dynamo Brad Weber.

So what has TJ Perenara done to peeve off Steve Hansen and his fellow selectors Ian Foster and Grant Fox?

Surely it’s something off the track, because on it he’s returned to the sort of combative form that saw him regularly in as the All Blacks No.2 No.9, behind Aaron Smith, until he was overtaken by Kerr-Barlow at the 2015 World Cup.

I gave him a points decision against Smith when they matched up on Friday in the Hurricanes’ last-gasp win over the Highlanders.

Perenara is a more physical, bustling type of halfback than Smith the master tactician, distributor and lightning sniper. And that was exactly what was needed for Perenara to get his team across the line in a tight one in messy conditions.

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Kerr-Barlow is in the Perenara mould and did earn his ascension up the pecking order as the Hurricane suffered a form dip at the World Cup. But how would the All Black selectors have any idea what Kerr-Barlow’s form is like now – he hasn’t been playing.

There was also just two specialist wingers named: Julian Savea – who has still to transition into top gear – and the Highlanders’ Waisake Naholo.

This enables a return to four locks, after only three were taken to the UK for the successful 2015 World Cup campaign, with the return of the immensely capable and powerful Blues second rower Patrick Tuipulotu.

And finally the ‘Ardie Savea project’ has moved into the next phase, with the brilliance of the Canes’ openside simply demanding inclusion years after he was taken on an end of year tour in an uncapped ‘watch and learn’ capacity.

Also great to see the talents of high-skill, old-school Highlanders No.6 Elliot Dixon finally recognised, along with his No.8 mate Liam Squire, whose willingness to throw his considerable weight into the collision zone has clearly impressed the selectors.

McKenzie, Ardie Savea, Squire and Dixon join Blues prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi and line-breaking Chiefs midfielder Seta Tamanivalu as the six new caps in the squad.

Perenara can take some consolation having been named as injury cover, alongside uncapped Highlanders workaholic lock Tom Franklin.

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All Blacks squad to face Wales
Props: Charlie Faumuina, Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Hookers: Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris, Dane Coles.
Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Romano.
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Kieran Read (c), Elliot Dixon, Jerome Kaino, Liam Squire.
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
Five-eighths: Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Lima Sopoaga.
Midfield: Charlie Ngatai, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Seta Temanivalu.
Outside backs: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Damian McKenzie, Julian Savea, Waisake Naholo.

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