All Blacks veteran Perenara suffers suspected torn Achilles tendon

Mon, Nov 21, 2022, 9:39 PM
AW
by AFP and Staff Writer
The All Blacks hosted the Wallabies at Eden Park

All Blacks veteran TJ Perenara ruptured his Achilles tendon in last weekend's draw with England, New Zealand coach Ian Foster confirmed Monday, leaving his half-back facing a race to be fit in time for next year's Rugby World Cup.

Perenara made his 80th Test appearance as a second-half replacement on Saturday, but had to be helped from the pitch just before the final whistle after England fought back to earn a 25-all draw at Twickenham.

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"TJ has ruptured his Achilles - we're gutted for him," Foster told New Zealand media in London before the All Blacks flew home.

"He's innocuously gone to chase a kick and it's gone 'bang', which hurts."

Perenara, 30, had fought his way back into the New Zealand squad as backup to first-choice Aaron Smith and came off the bench for the All Blacks' final matches of 2022 in last week's win over Scotland and Saturday's draw.

Perenara is under pressure to be ready in time for the Rugby World Cup which kicks off in France next September.

On the sidelines, he joins Highlanders halfback Folau Fakatava who played in two Tests against Ireland last July before injuring knee ligaments.

Meanwhile, Foster has questioned the decision by Marcus Smith to abruptly end the game after England's remarkable comeback.

After replacement prop Will Stuart completed the remarkable recovery when he forced his way over for a second try on the stroke of full-time, the fly-half was booed by some home fans when, instead of going for a win, he kicked into touch with the last play of an enthralling game.

Foster, for whom this result rounded off a difficult year featuring four defeats -- a high number of losses for rugby superpower New Zealand -- was taken aback by Smith's final play.

"Was I surprised? Yeah I was. All I know is flip it over, I'd have liked our guys to have a crack so not sure what their tactics were," he said.

"We'll certainly be more disappointed than them...We've come here and played some great rugby. In our mind, we should have walked away with the win."

"It is always up to players mate," England counterpart Eddie Jones told reporters.

"I trust their decision-making. I am not on the field. I don't have access to them. I just trust their decision.

"We're disappointed we didn't win the game but a draw is a draw and the dominance they had in the first half, we could have fallen away.

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