Cam Roigard on Ruben Love: ‘Everyone’s got to get their opportunity’

All Blacks scrum-half Cam Roigard has no doubts Ruben Love would do the job if given the chance to make a maiden Test appearance in the No. 10 jersey. Love has worn the black jersey in five matches, made up of two starts at fullback and a trio of cameos off the bench.

Love debuted for the Hurricanes as an impact player against the Highlanders on March 26, 2021, before making six starts at first five-eighth across the Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaigns.

But with Jackson Garden-Bachop and Brett Cameron among those getting their chance in the Hurricanes run-on side in recent seasons, Love has lined up at fullback more often than not, leading to two starts at No. 15 for the All Blacks XV in 2023.

The utility scored two tries on debut for the All Blacks against Japan the following year, lining up on the wing after coming off the bench. Love has made another four appearances for the national team, named at fullback against France in Hamilton and Wales in Cardiff.

Love has started 10 matches at first five-eighth over the last two Super Rugby seasons, including another standout performance on Saturday. The 24-year-old linked up with Roigard in the halves, with the pair standing out in a statement 45-12 win over the ACT Brumbies.

“I feel like if we keep saying he’s not ready yet then there’ll be a time where he’s 30 and he’s never ready,” Roigard told RugbyPass in Christchurch.

“Everyone’s got to get their opportunity at some point. Hopefully his isn’t too far away.

“I’d love to play inside him if he’s at 10 for the All Blacks because we’ve been doing it for a majority of the season so far, and obviously he gets on well with Jordie [Barrett] who’s obviously had a big impact playing at 12 for the All Blacks.

“I’d have complete faith in him if he was in the 10 spot for the All Blacks but obviously you can’t look too far ahead. I’m sure he’d give you the same answer but our main focus obviously is just trying to win a title for the Hurricanes.”

Love seemed to grow in confidence as the Super Round blockbuster went on, taking the line on and finding some success. But the playmaker did throw some wayward passes during the second term, although the match was all but won.

Fehi Fineanganofo was the star of the show, with the former All Blacks Sevens flyer finishing with a four-try haul. Fineanganofo is now just two tries shy of the all-time Super Rugby record, with five matches still to play in the round-robin.

But the 23-year-old is heading overseas at season’s end, having signed with English Premiership outfit Newcastle Red Bulls. Fineanganofo will be available for the provincial season with Bay of Plenty before making the long-haul trip to the UK.

“We’ve all seen it with Fehi. I don’t know if it’s because he knows he’s going overseas and the pressures off and he’s been performing, but I think that’s also credit to our backline,” Roigard explained.

“Xavier Numia, he’s been someone that’s been playing good footy for a while. You watch him up close… you see the work he gets through and the skillset he’s got, as well as being a good scrummager and being pretty sound at set-piece.”