The All Blacks have recalled scrumhalf TJ Perenara to a 36-man squad for the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship after his return from Japan, although his flirtation with rugby league left coach Ian Foster less than impressed.
Perenara had been heavily linked to a move to the NRL with Sydney Roosters before recommitting to the All Blacks until the end of 2023.
“I wasn’t personally over-impressed that that played out publicly; I made that point to him, I didn’t like the senior All Black coming out and saying he was thinking of leaving,” Foster told stuff.nz.
“That’s all part of the negotiation ploy I guess, but ultimately he’s back.”
Foster said he was pleased with how Perenara played in Japan but needed more rugby before the Bledisloe Cup opener against Australia at Eden Park on August 7.
“When he went to Japan, he had a clear focus from us,” Foster said.
“The good thing about a halfback going to Japan is that we want our halfbacks fast to the ruck … we monitored his progress over there and were pretty pleased with what we saw in that space. We know he’s a confrontational nine, a tough defender, he’s good over the ball, he’s ultra-competitive, so he’s done that for us for a long long time.
“It was a nice little reminder to say ‘you’re good at that’ but we also want to make sure we keep that threshold of speed in the game. He certainly focused on that in Japan and I thought he did a really good job.”
Lock Sam Whitelock was named captain, with regular skipper Sam Cane omitted as he recovers from a long-term pectoral muscle injury.
The All Blacks play Australia at Eden Park before starting the Rugby Championship against the Wallabies in Perth two weeks later.
Props Ofa Tuungafasi and Joe Moody were also named although Moody is expected to miss the Bledisloe Cup.
All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said in a statement: “It’s exciting to be naming the squad for the Rugby Championship and we can’t wait for the next phase of our test season.
TJ Perenara (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
“The Steinlager Series gave us a great opportunity to grow some depth and experience. It also enabled us to re-establish some returning players, both from overseas or from injury.
“The Bledisloe Cup plus the Rugby Championship are pinnacle challenges for us and remain as our top priorities. There is real excitement in the group for these opportunities in front of us.
“Our players are looking forward to spending some time at home before what is shaping up to be a hugely-competitive Rugby Championship. The Bledisloe Cup Series is a great way for us to kick off this part of the season.
“It’s our first challenge; we’re playing for a trophy that is massively important to us, and we’re both coming in fresh off our respective series wins, so it bodes well for a great series.”
All Blacks squad
Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock (capt), Ethan Blackadder, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu.
Backs: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie, Sevu Reece.Finlay Christie remains as temporary cover with the squad as Perenara undergoes a progressive return to competitive rugby.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I never know when to use the word irony. What does it even mean? My armour is irony and the pots are too. But TJ doesn't joust or cook. I also get stuck with ironic, but can refer to Alanis Morissette for help there. The opposite of what she says is the go.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
We really have to stop passing judgement on players by asserting that 'he is not up to test level' or at least part of his game isn't. Clearly the selectors think he is, his 69 tests played record appears to indicate that he is so what does the assessment 'not up to test level' even mean? It's a vacuous throwaway line that substitutes impatience for analysis. Can you give specific examples of why his passing and kicking is not up to test level? Is it just the one charge down a few years back or are there more? Why do you think he has been picked by the All Black selectors then? Is 'leading the haka' your answer?
1eye
Roar Rookie
Would rather see Finlay Christie in the mix over TJ .... Definitely distributes better in an Aaronsmithesque fashion than TJ , with some test match experience could be our no 1 half back in the future .
No I have no idea if he makes it to the WC in 23 or even if we will have a WC in 2023 at this stage but based on last season I see him as top 3 9s in NZ at the moment. OB.
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
Gee, if he is going to get treated like that he could have stayed in Japan, so he flirted with code switch when the deals on the table were reportedly not great from NZR, so what?. with his skill set and experience, he could have picked a pretty penny in France or England and would love to have see him play here. What is Foster playing at? new player motivation techniques?
Scotty P
Roar Rookie
Williams and Newall from the Crusaders look like really good prospects. It's NZ rugby, we will always have players coming through.
OtakiCraig
Roar Rookie
Eh? WA is following how NZ uses lockdown, when it’s needed, it’s needed, no complaints from us
To be honest Paulo there hardly seems anything that suits the headline or that would be considered "Hitting back". Its a very measured statement from TJ and also from Foster and its the writing around the actual comments that tries to create the controversy. Im 100% confident that Foster and TJ will have had many discussions way out of the reach of the press. I have no culture concerns with the Abs at present and nothing Ive seen tells me the players arnt 100% behind him.
Some one new always seems to turn up OB. Its good to see some younger guys starting to come thry but you are right re the TH propping reserves at the moment.
Im happy with Weber as the backup but that does not mean I dont have a massive respect for what TJ has done as a rugby player. His first test was 2014 and his last was 2020 so I think the Abs were no 1 in the world for most of those years and leading into the 2019 WC. In that time I have seen him pass and seen him kick plus a hell of a lot of other things that make him a world class halfback and whilst I have never seen him as better than AS he has been a great servant of NZ rugby including a top 10 all time try scorer so Ill stick with my opinion that he is a very good international standard player thanks DD
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
At least you chucked Katie Hopkins out!
Yep he is a A Smith with a running attitude. Cant wait to see him develop.
WEST
Roar Guru
Yeah I read about that, not a great way to get back into the team. Maybe he’ll be back and be better than ever?? We’ll see soon enough
Lara
Guest
If TJ pissed off Foster, image Ardie’s looky looky is causing. Without Cane in the squad, Ardie can have some fun. If you look at Laumape’s case n how he was treated…. Foster , you may be the coach, but it cuts both ways.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Just wait Jacko, as we've yet to see the best of Fakatava.
nroko
Roar Rookie
Australia is no different. Even worse at the moment!
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
I've been adopting a wait-and-see approach to Foster's tenure and this situation now has the alarm bells ringing. TJ has done the unprecedented and "gone there". Maybe a storm in a teacup or maybe a symptom of unrest in the rank-and-file.
Targa
Roar Rookie
The way Jacinda is going, NZ is starting to feel like one too.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
“Hmm.. Perenara has a lot of impressing to do.” And his first step… publicly hit back at the coach. Why not, it worked for Quade didn’t it?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Well… maybe I meant the ironing… you don’t know. To be fate, without autocorrect my posts would bee even moor incomprehension. Seriously though, TJ has now hit back at Foster publicly. https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/125801156/it-wasnt-a-ploy-tj-perenara-hits-back-over-all-blacks-coach-ian-fosters-swipe-at-his-nrl-negotiations I struggle to see this ever happening under another coach. Imagine this under Shag or Henry? Really worrying signs about culture this far into a RWC cycle.