Wynne Gray: Spotlight on Perenara to show he is capable substitute for Smith

TJ Perenara of the All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images

All rugby eyes will zero in on Chicago tomorrow where, unless you've been in a tree-hut all week, you'll be aware the All Blacks are running out on to Soldier Field.

It's a test which should be classified as an occasion. It is a ground-breaking move into the American market where the All Blacks, their sponsors and Eagles hosts attempt to get some traction in a vast sporting market.

You wonder if such missionary sporting fervour will accompany the All Blacks' historic visit to Samoa next year.

Alongside the spruiking and the fluffy stories which have blown out of the Windy City, there are some very strong threads of attention for the All Blacks coaches and their players.

While the mainly second XV puts on the All Blacks test jerseys they will be very aware about the importance of the occasion, especially for their futures. There are 34 players on tour, several injured men at home, and a bunch of others close to selection who are playing games in the UK.

This is no basic end-of-year expedition, the squeeze on places in a 31-man World Cup group is tightening.

The coaches want to see how a number of players react to that pressure. Their focus will be on most positions where the incumbents are coming under pressure because of their production or the challenges from new faces in the squad.

Nowhere is there more heat than at halfback.

Aaron Smith has been an absolute champion whose pass, kick and run routines have gone to a new level in his 36 tests and make him such a crucial component in the side's plans. His fitness and form is astounding.

He watches from the stand at Soldier Field tomorrow as TJ (it is Thomas, isn't it?) Perenara pulls on the No 9 jersey for the first crack at the Eagles.

There's no question he's got some game, plenty of frilly pieces to his work and some confidence. He's been on the fast track to the top since school and this is his second year with the All Blacks.

Some of his passing, kicking and certainly his decisions are still ragged.

He has to buckle down to that work to persuade the selectors he could be the business if Smith were unavailable. Adrenalin drives much of Perenara's play and that energy clouds his production. For all his invention and strikeplays there is a gaffe or three.

He will have solid instructions from the coaches about how they want him to show a settled, accurate display. It is a huge stage for Perenara with Tawera Kerr-Barlow out for nine months, but there is heat.

Augustine Pulu is a comer on debut, Andy Ellis knows all about World Cup cool if needed and T K-B will recover.