TJ Perenara’s return threatens all-time Super Rugby Pacific record

Dylan Coetzee
TJ Perenara acrobatically scores for the Hurricanes.

TJ Perenara acrobatically scores for the Hurricanes.

All Blacks veteran scrum-half TJ Perenara has been named on the bench for the Hurricanes this weekend, marking his return from a severe injury that had him sidelined for over a year.

Perenara ruptured his Achilles in a Test against England in November 2022, effectively ruling him out of the entire 2023 season, including the Rugby World Cup in France.

As he is one of the Super Rugby Pacific greats, we take a closer look at what his return means for the tournament and for the Hurricanes.

All-time try-scoring record

It’s not often a scrum-half feature right at the top of the try-scoring charts, but Perenara is an exception. Since his debut for the Hurricanes back in 2012, the star’s prolific nature has spectacularly been on display notching up a ridiculous 58 tries in 151 appearances, just two short of all-time leaders Julian Savea and Israel Folau.

Those numbers are mind-blowing for his position and is a testament to his game awareness and ability to exploit weaknesses in defensive lines. His time partnering Beauden Barrett in Hurricanes half-pairing on more than 100 occasions was particularly fruitful and shaped the player he has become.

Returning from such a long-term injury is always tricky for players and with this one later on in his career it will be interesting to see if Perenara still has that edge that had him under the opponent’s skin or making diving interceptions off opponent’s line-out to score.

Whether or not the All Black was as potent as he was before there is still a strong sense that he could go on and claim the record for himself even though Savea looks revived in the colours of Moana Pasifika. Perenara is just a natural finisher and hopefully for him that will show again.

Hurricanes depth at scrum-half

Before the season began, Perenara confirmed he would be returning in the early stages of the tournament and declared that since Aaron Smith has left the country, both he and rising star Cam Roigard can be the best scrum-halves not only at the Hurricanes but also in New Zealand.

His comments were bang on, and Roigard’s rise last season was so impressive that it earned him a World Cup ticket and a try at the global showpiece as well. His attacking game has shades of Perenara, which is brilliant to see.

Whilst Perenara only references Roigard and himself, there has been another shining star at nine for the Hurricanes in the form of Jordi Viljoen, who has been in outstanding form at the beginning of his career. The son of a former Springbok may struggle a bit more for game time now that the veteran has returned, but he is in the perfect environment to learn from world-class players.

Above all, it will be a pleasure to see one of the big characters and performers in Perenara return to the field of play – Super Rugby Pacific will be better off for it.

All-Time Super Rugby Pacific leader try scorers

60 – Julian Savea*
60 – Israel Folau
59 – Doug Howlett
58 – TJ Perenara*
58 – Caleb Ralph
57 – Joe Roff
56 – Ma’a Nonu
56 – Christian Cullen
56 – Bryan Habana
56 – Stirling Mortlock

As of 7 March 2024

*Still active.

READ MORE: Jordie Barrett learns his fate after red card in Super Rugby Pacific clash

Facts & Stats TJ Perenara

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