TJ Perenara sends message to Scott Robertson in All Blacks shoot-out as explosive Test front-rower also impresses
All Blacks duo TJ Perenara and Asafo Aumua, who impressed for Wellington on Friday.
TJ Perenara got the better of his All Blacks rival Cam Roigard as Wellington reached the semi-finals of the NPC with a 29-14 victory over Counties Manukau.
The scrum-half was surprisingly released by Scott Robertson during the week to play for the capital-based side in the domestic competition.
It gave Perenara one last chance to wave goodbye to the Wellington faithful having also featured for New Zealand in their 33-13 Bledisloe Cup victory over the Wallabies last month.
And the 32-year-old laid down a marker ahead of the end-of-year tour as he edged the duel with his fellow All Blacks squad member.
Sending a message to the boss
Although it was not one-way traffic, with Roigard showing plenty of qualities on just his second game back after a serious injury, the hosts’ playmaker sent a message to Robertson.
He scored one of Wellington’s five tries on what was likely his final appearance in the capital as they claimed a comfortable 15-point win.
Roigard touched down as well – showing excellent awareness with a quick tap – while his kicking game and slick service also impressed, but he could not quite exert enough influence to get his team closer.
Instead, Perenara and co. marched into the last-four with All Blacks reserve hooker Asafo Aumua the star of the show. Aumua displayed his talent in the loose, setting up three of the home side’s scores – including the scrum-half’s – as he also gave the national team head coach something to think about.
Codie Taylor was excellent in the Rugby Championship, with Aumua consistently used as a bench option, but this performance from the explosive hooker will please Robertson looking long-term.
Other Test hopefuls
Elsewhere for Wellington, two other members of the All Blacks 36 featured as Billy Proctor started and Ruben Love came off the bench.
Proctor has only played once for New Zealand so far in 2024 but, despite the lack of game time internationally, the centre was making his fourth appearance in the NPC.
After a try-scoring effort last time out against Hawke’s Bay, the back once again looked sharp and got his name on the scoresheet for the second match in a row.
He combined well with Riley Higgins, who also touched down, in the midfield. Higgins, like Proctor, is another big talent and will be part of the second-string All Blacks XV squad for the clashes against Munster and Georgia in November.
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