Rugby: Perenara's passing no longer a weakness

New Zealand All Blacks players TJ Perenara and Victor Vito. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

Halfback says being in same team as the world’s best in that position has paid off

It must be a mixed blessing being a halfback in the same team as Aaron Smith.

The little Highlander has become one of the best in the world with his speed and fitness allowing him to get to just about every breakdown, and for 80 minutes if need be, but the constant comparison to his immaculate passing game by supporters, selectors and journalists alike must wear a bit thin for his rivals in black.

Not so, says TJ Perenara.

Perenara, a player with a more powerful running game than Smith, has worked hard on his passing, especially in the off-season - and the results are clear to see - but being in the same team as Smith, as well as Tawera Kerr-Barlow, is nothing but good for the Hurricanes halfback.

"It's very good," Perenara said. "He [Smith] is obviously a very good passer of the ball and having that competitiveness we both share - with Tawera as well - just trying to be better than each other and better ourselves day to day ... it's good to have people there with quality in their skillset [who] are just as competitive.

"Throughout my career passing has been a big work-on for me. I played a lot of footy out of position [first-five] growing up and running was a part of the game I enjoyed and probably passing wasn't a part of the game I enjoyed so much."

As much as he downplayed it in London yesterday ahead of the All Blacks' first game of the World Cup in a week's time, a big part of the Hurricanes' journey to the final this year was down to Perenara's work behind the scrum. His passing game continues to be a focus, just as it is with any halfback, but it's no longer a weakness - his hard work in toiling for hours by himself in the summer, plus the work he, Smith and Kerr-Barlow, do together has seen to that.

There can be comfort in hard work and there is a feeling among all the team in London that proper rugby training can't come soon enough, but as they continue to settle into the capital and recover from their long-haul flight, mixing with the numerous supporters here has its own rewards.

Fans flocked to a promotion on the south bank of the Thames yesterday and Perenara was left in no doubt as to their levels of enthusiasm at seeing the team.

"They're pretty excited about the challenge ahead of us and they take it on their shoulders to play as much of a part as we do so it's awesome to have that support over here."

Asked if any senior players had talked to him about the World Cup experience, Perenara, who has yet to play in one, said: "As a group we've never done something like this before so we've talked about the uniqueness of this World Cup and the uniqueness of this team.

"We have a challenge in front of us that we want to achieve as a team but ... we've just talked about taking one game at a time.

"Things are different. You can't get too caught up with what's happening two or three weeks down the track."

Play Dream Team International Rugby Tipping and Fantasy International Rugby and be in to win over $4,000 in cash prizes. Go to dreamteam.co.nz