Super Rugby Pacific: TJ Perenara to make first Hurricanes appearance since 2020

David Skippers 23 Mar 2022 6:36 AM

All Blacks scrum-half TJ Perenara is set to make his long awaited return for the Hurricanes when they face Moana Pasifika in Auckland on Friday.

Perenara returned to the Hurricanes after a stint in Japan and is poised to make his first appearance for the Wellington-based outfit since 2020.

Return to action after Covid setback

This will be the Hurricanes’ first Super Rugby Pacific match since March 5 after a Covid-19 outbreak in their squad and their head coach, Jason Holland, has made several alterations to his matchday squad.

In the backline, Perenara teams up with debutant Aidan Morgan in the half-backs while Teihorangi Walden also makes his Hurricanes bow at inside centre alongside Peter Umaga-Jensen, who will wear the number 13 jersey.

Meanwhile, in the back three, Jordie Barrett lines up at full-back while Wes Goosen and another debutant, Josh Moorby, start on the wings.

In the forwards, Scott Scrafton moves to the second-row alongside Caleb Delany while Reed Prinsep captains the team from the blindside flank with Blake Gibson packing down on the other side of the scrum and Brayden Iose starts at number eight.

In the front-row, Asafo Aumua packs down at hooker alongside fellow All Black Tyrel Lomax and Xavier Numia, who are the starting props. A strong bench has been named with Hawke’s Bay Magpies captain Tom Parsons also in line for a Hurricanes debut as the replacement lock and the team’s regular skipper, All Black Ardie Savea, will cover the back-row.

Scrum-half Cameron Roigard is set to return from injury alongside Ruben Love and Salesi Rayasi, who are the other backline replacements.

Holland is excited to see the four debutants get an opportunity.

“Aidan has been in our environment for a couple of years now and has all the skills and a great head on his shoulders,” he said. “Teihorangi has been a very popular member of our squad since day one of pre-season and I can’t wait to see him in action.

“Moorby has also earned the respect of the squad really quickly and is an exciting prospect anywhere in the back three. Tom will make his debut off the bench, and has brought some great experience into our pack.

“Friday is a fantastic opportunity for all four who have trained well and been dying to get a crack.”

Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Reed Prinsep (c), 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Alex Fidow, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Tom Parsons, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Cameron Roigard, 22 Ruben Love, 23 Salesi Rayasi

Date: Friday, March 25
Venue: Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:05 local (06:05 GMT)
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams, Jono Bredin
TMO: Glenn Newman

Hurricanes