Perofeta gets NZ call to face OZ

SENSATIONAL: Classy Whanganui export Stephen Perofeta (seen here in the NZ jersey against the Australian Barbarians at Cooks Gardens last year) has been named in the New Zealand Under-20 squad.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

HARDLY surprising, but Whanganui rugby export Stephen Perofeta has been selected to play for the New Zealand squad in the Oceania Under-20 tournament on the Gold Coast in Australia in May.

The classy Whanganui first five was lost to Taranaki at the end of last season and made an immediate impact with selection to the Chiefs Under-20s and earning a spot in the New Zealand Under-20 trial camp.

While still a Year 13 student at Wanganui Collegiate School Perofeta scored more than 100 points in his debut first class rugby season for Steelform Wanganui in last year's Heartland competition.

He scored 47 points in Wanganui's seven Heartland matches, with eight tries, one penalty and two conversions.

He was even more impressive for the New Zealand Heartland XV, scoring 58 points in just three matches against NZ Marist and two clashes with the Australian Barbarians.

Perofeta scored three tries and kicked six penalties, a field goal and 11 conversions.

His talents did not go unnoticed and Perofeta was one of three nominated for New Zealand Heartland Player of the Year at the Steinlager Rugby Awards in Auckland in December last year.

Perofeta narrowly missed the title that went to Wanganui halfback Lindsay Horrocks.

New Zealand Under-20 head coach Scott Robertson said he was pleased with the talent available for the tournament, which involves two test matches against Australia next month.

"The trial matches that we held last month were incredibly valuable for us as selectors and we got to see the players in that intense game environment, and we got to see how they responded to the pressure of playing and competing for places.

"While there are only the two countries, we have two tough test matches against a strong Australian team in this Oceania tournament. These will also provide us with a valuable sense of how they cope with playing intense matches in a compact window," he said.

Hurricanes hooker Leni Apisai has been named captain.

"Leni is just an impressive young man who leads a pack well on the field. He has already shown a maturity beyond his years, in the way he has stepped up to starting for the Hurricanes when veteran hookers Dane Coles and Motu Matu'u were ruled out injured at the start of the season."

The New Zealand Under-20 squad to compete in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship will be named in May after the Oceania squad returns to New Zealand.

The squad assembles in Auckland on April 24 and will play a match against the Blues Development XV on April 28, before travelling to the Gold Coast for matches against Australia on May 3 and 7.