Page 25 - 3rd Test

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AS A A A MAN USED TO
working hard livewire halfback TJ Perenara is is a a a a a a a a player who takes his chances when they come
and
is always looking to create more for himself He’s a a a a a a a a a a a a vital part of the All Blacks 23 regularly taking over from teammate Aaron Smith and
nishing Tests for the team while ably running matches from the kickoff when required When his opportunities came
in 2016 Perenara was more than
ready to step up So well did he he do
that New Zealand’s rugby bible the Rugby Almanack made him him one of of its ve players of of of the the the year year and
installed him him as as halfback in in in their team of of the the the the year year It was hardly surprising given the the the year year Perenara had He played a a a a a a a a a a signi cant role in in in in the the Hurricanes’ maiden triumph in in in in winning the the Investec Super Rugby competition lling in in in in in as as Captain for Dane Coles while the hooker was out due to a a a a a a persistent rib injury Perenara soaked up all of the extra responsibility and
that contributed
to the the excellence he he he demonstrated through the the Investec Rugby Championship But again none of it is is is is surprising Sporting blood ows through his veins His father Thomas was a a a a a a a a Junior Kiwi and
toured Britain
in in 1987 with the league side Thomas also played softball as as lead-off batter for New Zealand’s national team when they won the the the world championship in 1996 His mother mother Fiona and
and
his grandmother also played softball for New Zealand Until his his mid-teens in fact Perenara says softball was his his No 1 game But while he he admits to growing up in in a a a a competitive household he he has
never been over-burdened with parental advice “Mum and
Dad just want me
to trust my instincts when I get out on the the eld ” he he he he he says “They know there’s a a a a a a lot of stuff that comes with playing the the game I I might might make mistakes or I I might might do
things well “I have a a a big af liation with the Ngati Toa tribe I take great pride in in leading that haka ” but at the the the end of the the the day if I I trust my instincts and
I I learn from the the the the the consequences whether they’re good good or or bad then it’s a a a good thing ” His inclusion for two years in in in the the New Zealand Schools rugby team and
and
Perenara in in action in in the the second half of the the rst Test later in the the NZ Under 20 side set him up for a a a a a a professional career rstly with the the Hurricanes from 2012 – he scored a a a a a a a hat-trick of tries in in his rst starting appearance – and
then with the the All Blacks since 2013 While his starting opportunities for the All Blacks have been restricted by Smith’s dominance in in in the the role Perenara has
his own responsibilities in in in in the the the the side not the the the the least of which is is is leading the the the the haka haka Calling the the the Ka Mate haka haka is is is especially satisfying for him because
he connects with it it so closely “I “I was brought up in Ngati Toa’s area ” Perenara says “It’s not my tribe tribe but it’s the tribe I I I was brought up around so I I I have a a a a a a a a a a a big af liation with the Ngati Ngati Toa tribe and
I I actually consider myself to be be from Ngati Ngati Toa Toa That’s where I’ve spent my my whole life Te Rauparaha’s haka [Ka Mate] is from Ngati Toa as well so I take great pride in in being able to lead that haka PROFILE
One of of the the leaders of of the the haka and
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a man constantly seeking to to improve his game All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a formidable competitor both on and
off the eld WORDS: LYNN MCCONNELL