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The former All Black halfback that Cam Roigard is drawing comparisons with
Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard has made a name for himself with regular Super Rugby game time as veteran TJ Perenara recovers from an Achilles injury suffered last year.
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The 22-year-old starred for the Hurricanes in a 34-19 win over the Waratahs which demonstrated his running game with two tries, one of which he ran straight over the top of Wallaby flyhalf Ben Donaldson.
Roigard excelled in the NPC last season which led to a call up with the All Blacks XV development side and has continued that form early this season.
Former All Black fullback Mils Muliaina likened his play to another former All Black halfback and said that he is excelling with the extra responsibility the Hurricanes are providing him.
“He’s just really taking his opportunity, Perenara is obviously out so he’s getting regular time in the 9 jersey,” Muliaina told Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown panel.
“Last year he was outstanding for Counties Manukau and he goes on the New Zealand XV tour.
“I like the way he plays, he almost reminds me a little bit of Jimmy Cowan.
“He’s really hard, he’s got a nice long kicking game. It’s just confidence too, for him, having regular game time.
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“He’s starting to snipe more around the corner now. They’ve obviously given him a lot more responsibility in that position. A lot guys don’t.”
Ex-All Black wing John Kirwan said that the intriguing aspect of Roigard is he offers something which the other form halfbacks don’t.
The current crop of All Black No 9s in Aaron Smith, Folau Fakatava, and Brad Weber are pure passers with an attack-focused game.
“What we love as New Zealanders is, we love an extra loose forward,” Kirwan explained.
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“I was around when Andrew Donald was there, we called him Shuffle, Justin Marshall, you know big players that can be an extra loose forward.
“That’s what TJ Perenara is right. When you think about Smith and all the other halfbacks that are in form, Finlay [Christie], Brad [Weber], everyone’s in form, but they are quite similar.
“Do we need that balance where we’ve got that big halfback that can play tough around the rucks.
“I think he has taken his opportunity and for me, that’s what it’s about.”
Chiefs and All Black tightprop Angus Ta’avao said the Hurricanes No 9 is one of the form players in the competition.
He urged the halfback to maintain the balance in his game to make the most of the Hurricanes power forwards they have up front.
“If we talk about what Shaun Stevenson is doing, Cam Roigard is doing that,” Ta’avao said.
“He does have that bigger body but I feel he’s not overplaying it too much. He’s looking for those opportunities when it’s on, two meat pies on the weekend.
“He’s also got that inside ball to Asafo Aumua, he’s got the weapons around to use. That balance will be key for him.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
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