All Blacks Suffer Blow as Veteran Scrum-Half TJ Perenara Ruled Out of England Test
In a significant setback, the All Blacks have announced that veteran scrum-half TJ Perenara will miss their upcoming Test against England at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. The 32-year-old suffered a knee injury during the latter stages of the opening half of Saturday’s first game against the Red Rose in Dunebin, when All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett fell on his leg after being cleaned out at a ruck.
This latest injury setback comes after Perenara’s return to the international stage, following a 20-month absence. The experienced player had previously sustained a ruptured Achilles during the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour in 2022, undergoing two surgeries to repair the issue.
According to an official statement from the All Blacks, scans have been conducted, and the team is now seeking specialist advice to determine Perenara’s return-to-play timeline.
In his absence, Crusaders scrum-half Noah Hotham has been called up to the squad as cover.
While the initial assessment suggested a serious injury, All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland remained optimistic about Perenara’s potential availability for the team’s subsequent Test against Fiji in San Francisco on July 19. “It looked pretty nasty when it happened but he’s better than expected,” Holland said, “We’re waiting on a specialist to determine exact return to play dates but hopefully it’s not too long.”
In Perenara’s absence, Finlay Christie, who came on as a replacement in the opening Test, is expected to be elevated to the starting lineup for the clash against England at the All Blacks’ fortress, Eden Park. Additionally, Cortez Ratima, who has impressed for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific, is poised to make his international debut off the replacements bench.
Recognizing Ratima’s potential, Holland praised the 23-year-old, stating, “He’s diligent, making sure he’s all over everything, and he’ll be in a space, where if he works really hard during the week, which I know he will, he’ll be ready to go.” The All Blacks will be hoping the young scrum-half can seize his opportunity and contribute to the team’s pursuit of victory against England.
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