All Blacks reject Perenara named in Maori squad to face Ireland

Discarded All Blacks scrumhalf TJ Perenara will get an immediate chance to show his omission was a mistake after being named on Wednesday in a Maori All Blacks squad for two matches against Ireland.

Perenara is among four Test players included in a 28-strong group for midweek fixtures in Hamilton on 29 June and Wellington on 12 July.

Ireland will play three Tests against New Zealand July 2, 9 and 16 July.

A veteran of 78 Tests, Perenara was left out of the All Blacks squad unveiled on Monday, with coach Ian Foster favouring younger candidates to support veteran scrumhalf Aaron Smith.

Both Perenara and 17-Test scrumhalf Brad Weber, who was also dropped from the All Blacks squad, are among the Maori selections.

Flyhalf Josh Ioane and prop Tyrel Lomax are the other players with Test experience in contention for the first Maori All Blacks games against Ireland since 2010.

Hoake Tatou! Introducing the Maori All Blacks 2022 squad to take on @IrishRugby ???? ??? Tickets » https://t.co/9U1B1GseXc pic.twitter.com/r9NqkuORAJ

Coach Clayton McMillan said having the four available was important.

"We are lucky to have experienced All Blacks in the squad, I'm looking forward to the passion and knowledge they will bring," McMillan said.

"The squad named is a mix of players who know how to perform at this level, and players that bring fresh perspective and energy to the game."

McMillan noted the presence of two former Maori All Blacks backs in the 40-strong Ireland squad and hoped both Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe would get a chance to play in the midweek fixtures.

Maori All Blacks squad: Jermaine Ainsley, Leni Apisai, Caleb Delany, Josh Dickson, Kurt Eklund, Connor Garden-Bachop, Billy Harmon, Te Kamaka Howden, Josh Ioane, Tyrel Lomax, Ruben