Super Rugby team of the week: Blues No 10 Stephen Perofeta shows class in latest comeback
Tuesday, 5 May 2026
ANALYSIS: Blues No 10 Stephen Perofeta reminded everyone of his class when he started to take the ball to the line in the second half against Moana Pasifika.
Perofeta, now 29, has been one of the unluckiest players in New Zealand over the past five years.
He has suffered injury after injury, restricting him to just six All Blacks appearances in total.
Based on talent alone, that number should be 30 or 40 - easily.
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He’s one of the silkiest runners in the game and it was almost bittersweet to see him show some of those qualities at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.
His future in New Zealand is unclear, but for this week at least he makes The Post’s team of the week.
15 Callum Harkin (Hurricanes): Career-best season continued as he attacked the line with prupose against the Crusaders.
14 Kade Banks (Blues): North Harbour standout was part of a much-improved Blues performance in the second half.
13 Xavi Taele (Blues): Relished that little bit of extra room in the No 13 jersey and used his footwork to beat three defenders.
12 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes): Very strong defensive shift from the All Blacks midfielder and some good work under the high ball.
11 Fehi Fineanganofo (Hurricanes): A quieter game by his standards but produced some individual brilliance when it mattered against the Crusaders.
10 Stephen Perofeta (Blues): Reminded everyone of his class when he started to take the ball to the line in the second half against Moana Pasifika.
9 Cam Roigard (Hurricanes): Created and scored a crucial Hurricanes try just before half-time.
8 Christian Lio-Willie (Crusaders): Everyone knows he’s a hard worker, but he also showed some nice hands in some of the Crusaders’ best attacking moments in Wellington.
7 Anton Segner (Blues): Are the two most diligent and driven young forwards in the New Zealand system a German (Segner) and a Dutchman (Fabian Holland)?
6 Torian Barnes (Blues): First-year Super Rugby player continued to the simple things well against Moana Pasifika - carried the ball 13 times and didn’t miss a tackle.
5 Caleb Delany (Hurricanes): An absolute workhorse around the paddock and a good lineout target against the Crusaders.
4 Sam Darry (Blues): His powerful carry in the lead-up to Marcel Renata’s try against Moana Pasifika will be exactly the sort of physicality that All Blacks senior assistant Neil Barnes is looking for.
3 Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes’ scrum was solid and Tosi won the crucial penalty that led to Du’Plessis Kirifi’s first-half try.
2 Jack Taylor (Highlanders): For the most part the Highlanders’ forwards provided a good set-piece platform against the Drua - but their finishing didn’t match it.
1 Xavier Numia (Hurricanes): Hard-running prop has rediscovered form of a few years ago when he was on the brink of an All Blacks call-up.