1
‘Quiet assassin’ Cam Roigard ready for starting debut in black
Two days out from the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup clash with Namibia in Toulouse, All Blacks captain Ardie Savea affectionately called Cam Roigard the “quiet assassin.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Roigard, 22, has grown by leaps and bounds as a rugby player this year. Stepping into the shoes of injured veteran TJ Perenara at the Hurricanes, the youngster made the No. 9 jersey his own.
Fans and pundits alike made their voices heard during Super Rugby Pacific as Roigard began to surge up the halfback depth chart in New Zealand, and emerged as a genuine World Cup bolter.
The scrum-half was later included in the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad along with Aaron Smith and Finlay Christie, and debuted in the black jersey against Australia at the world-famous MCG in July.
Roigard returned to the international arena as a second-half replacement for Smith during the record loss to South Africa at Twickenham. But Roigard was a shining light on an otherwise dark day.
Coach Ian Foster has handed the rising star his first start at Test level, with Roigard set to run out alongside playmaker Damian McKenzie in a new-look halves duo on Friday night.
“I suppose it’s been pretty surreal since I did get named in the squad, hoping that this sort of moment would eventuate, and for it to be just around the corner is pretty exciting,” Roigard told reporters.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s been a good week so far.
“We actually played together in the ABs XV against Ireland, I came on in the backend of the game when D Mac was still on so had a little bit of game time together.”
Before Roigard sat down in front of reporters – alongside McKenzie, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Caleb Clarke – coach Foster and captain Savea answered a flurry of questions.
Savea was both charismatic and poised during this press conference, but the captain let out a big grin as he began to speak about Hurricanes teammate Roigard.
Earlier this week during a gym session in Lyon, Savea spotted Roigard “in the corner of my eye watching” first-choice No. 9 Aaron Smith. Roigard is a competitor, and Savea admires that in the halfback.
ADVERTISEMENT
“He’s one of those guys who is really quiet but deep down he’s a competitor and he doesn’t like losing,” Savea said on Wednesday.
“For example, Nug (Aaron Smith) was in the gym this week and he was pumping some good bench press weights and I see Cam in the corner of my eye watching him.
“It’s awesome to see Cam, where he is and where he’s come from and the journey he’s taken. It’s awesome that he gets the opportunity.
“He’s a quiet man but hopefully he’s not quiet this week. He really speaks through his actions.”
Moments later, Roigard was asked about his competitive spirit and whether Savea’s description of “quiet assassin” fit the bill.
Clearly, it does.
“I think I’ve always been competitive and always trying to chase the people in my position right from Super Rugby to where I am now,” Roigard added.
“I think that’s a big part of my development… the ability to actually be myself, although it’s a little bit introverted, being competitive and trying to push myself and others around me has been a big part of trying to grow.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Great piece Nick, plenty to chew on. Loved this ‘biases’ line from Geoff, shows he is a thinker - “If you asked me for a shortlist of coaches who appealed to my biases, he would be on it.” I think Schmidt is towing a similar line to Rennie in regards to OS players, he is publicly saying he prefers local talent, but almost certainly will be fighting to have the likes of skelton in the team. Interesting to hear the backroom on the rebels and what a cockup that is, just when you think RA admin has hit rock bottom it digs deeper. Other bit that caught my eye was his skills focus on things like passing from 7s at the base of the lineout, great little details. but also scary that a SR level 8 didn’t know how to operate within a lineout - telling!
18 Go to commentsThoroughly enjoyed this thanks Nick. ‘The lineout starts on the ground…’ wish I’d thought of that line when discussing Will’s place in the Wallabies.
18 Go to commentsShannon Frizell’s second year is optional is how I heard it. Given nothing has been confirmed yet it gets more and more likely he signs to return next year. Cant wait to see Finau doing more work on Internal players.
28 Go to commentsBlindside flankers should be hard hitting defenders, good lineout jumper with height, and a hard worker who hits and cleans rucks. If he can be a destructive ball carrier it’s a bonus but not a necessity. Samipeni Fineau and Cullen Grace are excellent at those core skills and my choice at blindside. Brad Shields is dismissed because he is 33 but not sure why that should be a consideration for this season. Shields too does these core roles well. Just don’t pick an 8 and shift him to 6 like the wingers on The Breakdown suggest, as if 6 and 8 are interchangeable. They are not. An 8 is first and foremost a dynamic ball carrier, not necessarily a destructive defender as a 6 should be. Devon Flanders and Akira Ioane are #8 s forced to play blindside because their teams have better options at 8 than them. Do not pick them at blindside
28 Go to commentsSaints obviously didn’t get the memo, or needed an ego boost?
1 Go to commentsReturning to the Chiefs would be another good change that could only put him into a better position to succeed in black
6 Go to commentsSimply outrageous and demonstrably false to say Finau’s tackle on Lynagh was “2 seconds late” In reality it was probably 0.5 seconds after he passed the ball. If you carry the ball at speed to within 5m of the defensive line you can expect to get tackled. Finau could have pulled out of it and not absolutely flattened him for sure, but there was going to be contact either way. He seems like a high risk selection at the moment, but there is no one else like him in NZ at the moment. His big tackles make the highlight reels but he is also a great athlete, very fast for such a big man, spent most of his days at lock so also very strong in the line out.
28 Go to commentsYes, Finau looks like the best option. Blackadder is not big enough for an international 6 - he should join the queue at 7. Frizzell had the power and heft and line-out height to play lock, so maybe that is where the ABs should be looking, not at a 7 who’s not big enough for 6, but at a lock who might have the agility to play 6, like Scott Barrett, or… Natai Ah Kuoi, who absolutely fits that bill, but seldom gets to play 6 because the Chiefs have so many loosies.
28 Go to commentsPaul Quinn was a National MP.
6 Go to commentsNo need to worry about losers’ mentality hysteria from Australia. Finau has all the attributes, I don't recall a high or no arms tackle from him, and his timing has been controlled very well since the round 3 Lynagh tackle. It's an easy decision for Razor, the only question is who should back him up from the bench. He can't be overworked like Squire was in his first full season.
28 Go to comments“Reds coach Les Kiss saying later: “I think every player has the right to feel safe.” Maybe Rugby is the wrong sport for people who want to feel safe..?
28 Go to commentsNot sure what the context was, but the highlights showed one scrum against Aussie where the baby Blacks were going backwards at a pace. The pack has been the issue since 2017, so they might be in for another reality check soon. This tournament should really have been two rounds, would have learned a lot more.
1 Go to commentsPeter Lakai has a ‘lot of size’? Since when? To Kirifi maybe. I think Laidlaw clearly saw he’s too small for 6 or 8, so plonked him at 7. Has potential to be Ardies understudy in black for 7.
6 Go to commentsDalton for skipper?
16 Go to commentsOh he's ‘Irish qualified’ isn't that convenient. If Ireland get any more Kiwis (and Aussie) in their backline they might need to run out in green and black kit soon. How is the supposed best rugby system in the world in need of trawling for journeyman Kiwi players?
2 Go to commentsCallum Grace is playing well now that he's finally back in his best position. But given it was Razor who somehow thought Grace was dynamic enough to be a No8 when he's clearly not, Im not sure he’d backtrack on that. Finau is risky with his style, and there's almost no point picking Blackadder when he can’t stay on the field more than five minutes.
28 Go to commentsThe team on paper has more supposed ‘stars’ than a lot of the sides they’re losing to. They’ve got the Razor-blues and aren't playing for Penney. He should jump before he's pushed.
1 Go to commentsProof. That if you lay dramatic instrumental hip hop music over a video of a skinny pale white kid running an unopposed zig zag on a training ground filled with rookies - it’ll look next-level epic!
13 Go to commentsIf they win the challenge Cup then it will have all been worth it. If they don’t, then maybe he should go. Lots of ppl seem to think very highly of him as a coach, but maybe he would be better working under someone. Any top sides looking for forwards coaches rn?
1 Go to commentsJason Ryan knows his craft as forwards coach and I'm sure he’ll hold sway with Scott Robertson of who he feels worthy of selection…his credentials validated when he put a 7xcaps between them front row...Ethan, Samisoni and Lomax on Ellis Park…Go the AB's…
28 Go to comments