TJ Perenara has established himself as the All Blacks' first-choice halfback, resulting in his selection in the No. 9 jersey to face South Africa in Townsville on Saturday, coach Ian Foster asserts.
After spending the first part of 2021 playing club rugby in Japan, 29-year-old Perenara faced a battle to stay in the mix to take the spot as an All Blacks halfback.
Two brilliant Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman seasons from Brad Weber appeared to give the Chiefs' halfback the inside running to be the All Blacks' deputy No. 9, behind Aaron Smith.
But Smith's decision to remain in New Zealand to support his pregnant wife and miss the Rugby Championship opened the door for Perenara to remain in the fold, competing with Weber and Finlay Christie for the role.
Weber started the Australia tour as Foster's first choice halfback, but Perenara's back-to-back displays against Argentina over the last two weeks has seen him named to start against South Africa on Saturday.
The South Africa test - the 100th between the All Blacks and Springboks - is arguably Foster's biggest since taking charge of the side in 2020, naming his strongest team to face New Zealand's old foes, Perenara included.
Speaking on Thursday, Foster outlined exactly how Perenara's come back into the first-choice fold, solely down to his performances on the field.
And even with Weber in arguably career best form, the selection headache is a welcome one for the All Blacks' coach.
"He's played well, it's quite simple really," Foster says of Perenara.
"I thought his last two tests have been high quality. He went away and we gave him a focus.
"He's come back and he's really, I think, on top of his game at the moment.
"We've had a bit of front foot ball that's enabled him to operate, but he's been uncomplicated, he's been quick. When you couple that with his experience, and some of his decision making, we've been delighted with his form.
"As I said after the Perth test, Brad's playing really, really well too.
"We've got the sort of choice that we want to have at the moment."
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