TJ Perenara will get another chance to run out in front of his home crowd after being a surprise inclusion in Wellington’s squad for their NPC quarter-final.
The scrum-half was thought to have played his final game on New Zealand soil after featuring in the 33-13 Bledisloe Cup victory over the Wallabies.
Perenara started that match and was replaced midway through the second period, but perhaps didn’t quite get the send-off he deserved.
The crowd weren’t made aware that their hometown hero was being replaced and, with their attentions elsewhere, only a few fans seemed to notice that he was heading off for what was meant to be the last time.
Big match-up
However, the 32-year-old has been released for this weekend’s encounter against Counties Manukau in the NPC quarter-finals.
It potentially sets up a fascinating duel with fellow All Blacks scrum-half Cam Roigard, who will play his second match since returning from a serious injury.
Roigard scored two tries off the bench on his comeback game and was then named in the 36-man Test squad to tour the northern hemisphere.
The youngster will make his first start for Counties this season with Perenara among the Wellington replacements.
They will compete with Perenara and Cortez Ratima for the number nine jersey and Friday’s shoot-out could well be instructive for head coach Scott Robertson.
They are probably the only ones released that are in contention to start the first November clash against England.
Among the 14 that have headed back to their clubs, Asafo Aumua, who has been a perennial bench option for the All Blacks, Ruben Love and Bill Proctor will feature alongside Perenara for Wellington.
On Saturday, Bay of Plenty take on Hawke’s Bay with Pasilio Tosi, who impressed as a replacement against the Wallabies in Round Six, will play for the former team.
Meanwhile, Taranaki will benefit from the presence of Stephen Perofeta, while back-row duo Luke Jacobson and Samipeni Finau are in line to play for their last-eight opponents, Waikato.
The final contest sees a big South Island clash between Tasman and Canterbury, with Ethan Blackadder, David Havili, George Bell, Fletcher Newell and Sam Darry being made available.
All Blacks schedule
After the NPC quarter-finals have finished, there will just be two weeks before the All Blacks take on Japan in their opening match of the end-of-year tour.
New Zealand then head to Europe where they have the daunting prospect of facing England, Ireland and France over consecutive weekends – all teams in the top five of the World Rugby rankings.
They finish with a clash against Italy as Robertson’s men look to improve on a frustrating Rugby Championship, which saw them lose three of their six games.
Japan v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, 26 October
Venue: International Stadium, Yokohama
Local kick-off: 14:40
BST kick-off: 06:50
GMT kick-off: 05:50
England v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, 2 November
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Local kick-off: 15:10
Ireland v New Zealand
Date: Friday, 8 November
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Local kick-off: 20:10
France v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, 16 November
Venue: Stade de France
Local kick-off: 21:10
GMT kick-off: 20:10
Italy v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, 23 November
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Local kick-off: 20:10
