Super Rugby Pacific: TJ Perenara's hilarious taunt after claiming good mate Julian Savea's try-scoring record

TJ Perenara had a couple of reasons to celebrate after his record-setting try during the Hurricanes' demolition of the Waratahs to propel himself to the top of Super Rugby list of all-time leading try-scorers.

The veteran halfback effort's efforts also came with the additional bonus of one-upping his former long-time teammate and good friend Julian Savea, who he made over 100 appearances alongside at the Hurricane and is now playing his maiden season with Moana Pasifika.

With time expired, Perenara sniped over at the base of a tryline ruck to claims his 63rd try and break the deadlock with Savea - momentarily, at least.

Asked during Sky's post-match broadcast if he had any special message for Savea to mark the occasion, Perenara said he had a subtle taunt in mind.

"I might just send him a photo from the changing room, sitting next to his locker or something like that," Perenara laughed.

"Just something cheeky.

"No words or anything, because I know if I say something to him – he's on 62 at the moment – he'll go out and score two tries tomorrow."

Savea - who broke Israel Folau's long-standing mark against the Rebels last month - will have a shot at reclaiming his mantle during Moana Pasifika's historic clash with the Highlanders in Tonga on Saturday.

Perenara's 63 tries have come through 158 outings for the Hurricanes over 12 years, contrasted with Savea's 161 total appearances - 153 for the Canes and eight for his new club.

The halfback was one of seven try scorers against the Waratahs, who found themselves down 26-0 after in as many minutes in a Hurricanes blitz that put the result to bed early in an emphatic response to last weekend's win-streak snapping defeat to the Brumbies.

The result cemented the Hurricanes' standing atop the competition standings and, with just four games remaining, the experienced Perenara realises what's now required to ensure his team retain home advantage throughout the playoffs.

"We need to be sharper at what we're already good at it," said the 80-test All Black.

It is the business end of the year and a alot of teams talk at the start of the year about thewir standrads and what theyre will to do and what they're willing to sacrifice in order to win the competition, and this is when it really counts

"It's getting colder. People might not have played as many minutes as they'd have liked to have played. People are injured.  

"How we can harness our group and bring them together for the back-end of this competition is going to be really important."

The Hurricanes will need to lift those standards even further for next weekend's mouthwatering clash with the Blues at Eden Park.

The Blues sit a solitary bonus point behind the Hurricanes in second place on the ladder, after their routine 38-11 win over the Rebels.

TJ Perenara had a couple of reasons to celebrate after his record-setting try during the Hurricanes' demolition of the Waratahs to propel himself to the top of Super Rugby list of all-time leading try-scorers.

The veteran halfback effort's efforts also came with the additional bonus of one-upping his former long-time teammate and good friend Julian Savea, who he made over 100 appearances alongside at the Hurricane and is now playing his maiden season with Moana Pasifika.

With time expired, Perenara sniped over at the base of a tryline ruck to claims his 63rd try and break the deadlock with Savea - momentarily, at least.

Asked during Sky's post-match broadcast if he had any special message for Savea to mark the occasion, Perenara said he had a subtle taunt in mind.

"I might just send him a photo from the changing room, sitting next to his locker or something like that," Perenara laughed.

"Just something cheeky.

"No words or anything, because I know if I say something to him – he's on 62 at the moment – he'll go out and score two tries tomorrow."

Savea - who broke Israel Folau's long-standing mark against the Rebels last month - will have a shot at reclaiming his mantle during Moana Pasifika's historic clash with the Highlanders in Tonga on Saturday.

Perenara's 63 tries have come through 158 outings for the Hurricanes over 12 years, contrasted with Savea's 161 total appearances - 153 for the Canes and eight for his new club.

The halfback was one of seven try scorers against the Waratahs, who found themselves down 26-0 after in as many minutes in a Hurricanes blitz that put the result to bed early in an emphatic response to last weekend's win-streak snapping defeat to the Brumbies.

The result cemented the Hurricanes' standing atop the competition standings and, with just four games remaining, the experienced Perenara realises what's now required to ensure his team retain home advantage throughout the playoffs.

"We need to be sharper at what we're already good at it," said the 80-test All Black.

It is the business end of the year and a alot of teams talk at the start of the year about thewir standrads and what theyre will to do and what they're willing to sacrifice in order to win the competition, and this is when it really counts

"It's getting colder. People might not have played as many minutes as they'd have liked to have played. People are injured.  

"How we can harness our group and bring them together for the back-end of this competition is going to be really important."

The Hurricanes will need to lift those standards even further for next weekend's mouthwatering clash with the Blues at Eden Park.

The Blues sit a solitary bonus point behind the Hurricanes in second place on the ladder, after their routine 38-11 win over the Rebels.

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