TJ Perenara takes Super Rugby Pacific try-scoring record for himself as Hurricanes thrash Waratahs
TJ Perenara warms up.
All Blacks veteran TJ Perenara scored a record 63rd try in Super Rugby as the Hurricanes dispatched the Waratahs 41-12 at home on Friday.
Perenara’s score was one of seven tries on the night as Billy Proctor, Brett Cameron, Josh Moorby, Braydon Iose and Salesi Rayasi (2) crossed the whitewash with Cameron kicking three conversions.
It was a difficult evening for the visitors who did manage two tries through Vuate Karawalevu and Hugh Sinclair while Tane Edmed kicked one conversion.
Click here for scorers
The Super Rugby Pacific table-toppers did not take long at all to get going with skipper on the day Proctor crossing for a try after just three minutes. Cameron converted the try before going over for a converted effort of his own 11 minutes later.
Three minutes passed before the ‘Canes dropped another hammer blow with the electric running of Moorby finishing off a stunning team effort. That try was converted but the next would not be as Iose was rewarded for a commanding first half with a try in the 27th minute.
The clash would go into a scoring lull for quite some time until substitute Rayasi was on hand to score his first of the day just after the hour mark. That score was followed by the first points for the Waratahs courtesy of Karawalevu.
Rayasi also immediately responded with another unconverted try before Sinclair added the Waratahs’ second and final score with Edmed adding the extras.
It was almost all said and done but not for Perenara who took the try-scoring record for himself with a trademark snipe down the blindside.
TJ’s just keeping it humble! 😂#SuperRugbyPacific #HURvWAR pic.twitter.com/F526Ia5mKq
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 3, 2024
The teams
Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor (c), 12 Riley Higgins, 11 Bailyn Sullivan, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 Richard Judd, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Jordie Barrett, 23 Salesi Rayasi
Waratahs: 15 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Jake Gordon (c), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Hunter Ward, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Fergus Lee-Warner, 4 Hugh Sinclair, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Julian Heaven, 1 Hayden Thompson-Stringer
Replacements: 16 Jay Fonokalafi, 17 Lewis Ponini, 18 Brad Amituanai, 19 Miles Amatosero, 20 Charlie Gamble, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Vuate Karawalevu
Referee: Dan Waenga (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Mike Winter (New Zealand)