'I don’t think I was milking it': Cameron Roigard reacts to quick-tap incident

All Blacks halfback Cameron Roigard has responded to social media discussion around his incident with Blues first-five Beauden Barrett.

Roigard was taken out in the air by Barrett while taking a high-ball catch during the first half, before the halfback took the opportunity to take a quick tap and burst through a gap in the Blues’ defence.

The Hurricanes halfback was influential in their 57-21 victory over Vern Cotter’s Blues on Saturday night, clinching the side’s first Super Rugby Pacific final appearance since the 2016 grand final against the Lions.

Speaking to Jason Pine on Weekend Sports on Newstalk ZB, Roigard explained the play from his perspective.

“I’m probably not the one who’s meant to be taking the high ball so it was kind of going straight on my head so I wasn’t able to jump square and into Baz, so I fell a bit ugly,” Roigard told Pine on Newstalk ZB.

“When something like that happens, there’s usually a fight or a bit of a push-and-shove kind of thing. So I was just waiting for that and making sure I was all good, because you never know if you fall funny.”

The All Blacks No.9 then tapped the ball while the Blues players were still retreating, using the opportunity to get his side on the front foot.

“Ruben Love was asking for the ball so I was like that must mean something’s on so I got up, had a look, and no one was in the middle so I thought I might as well just go.

“I don’t think I was milking it. I know everybody’s having a crack online, but it is what it is. To be fair, if I stayed down or didn’t take the quick tap, he might have gotten a yellow card anyway. It’s not here nor there, but I don’t regret it. It is what is it. It’s footy.”

“To be fair, if he didn’t take me out in the air I’d have nothing to milk. I thought I’d just get on with the game and people are complaining. That’s up to them, it’s been and gone now.”

Former England halfback Ben Youngs was one of the first players to react to the incident, saying there’s “no place” for this in Rugby.