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Why All Black Cam Roigard was overlooked for Ireland quarter-final
Cam Roigard will not play Ireland this weekend. The rising star has been omitted from the All Blacks team to take on the world’s top-ranked side, with Finlay Christie set to come off the bench at Stade de France.
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Almost a day before the All Blacks officially named their team to take on the Irish in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, rumours of two massive selection bombshells began to swirl online.
New Zealand Herald scribe Liam Napier reported that Mark Telea was set to be miss out – with coach Ian Foster later confirming this due to disciplinary reasons – and Roigard was set to be overlooked.
The absence of Roigard has undoubtedly come as a surprise to many. Roigard has been a revelation in the black jersey in France, with the young gun receiving Player of the Match honours after his first start against Namibia.
But with the All Blacks carrying the ‘underdogs’ tag into a quarter-final for possibly the first time ever, coach Ian Foster believes Christie “has an edge defensively” as the New Zealanders prepare for a rugby war at the Parisian venue.
“What would make you think it was discipline? We just felt it was horses for courses for this particular game,” Foster told reporters in Paris.
“We think Finlay has an edge defensively. I think there will be a lot of action around the ruck defensively.
Knockout
11 - 12
Final
6 - 44
SF1
15 - 16
SF2
17 - 29
QF1
24 - 28
QF2
30 - 24
QF3
28 - 29
QF4
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“We have been delighted with Cam’s form and in a different type of game, it might have gone slightly differently. But this one here we have gone for that.”
Joining Finlay Christie on the bench is in-form playmaker Damian McKenzie. McKenzie has scored five tries at the tournament so far, including a double last week against Uruguay.
Many New Zealand rugby fans wanted to see McKenzie start at fullback against the Irish but coach Foster has stuck with veteran Beauden Barrett in the No. 15 jersey.
“He’s playing well but (I) like the combinations we are getting. (I) like that we’ve got a change-up option as the game unfolds and I think the trio of Richie [Mo’unga], Beaudy and Damian is looking [agreeable] at the moment,” Foster said when asked about McKenzie.
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“But also really delighted with Richie and Beaudy’s form so it’s a tough decision but the great thing is Damian has come in and really put his hand up with his form. It gives us some good impact off that bench.”
The All Blacks have only failed to make it to the semi-finals on one occasion. 16 years ago, as All Blacks fans will struggle to forget, the New Zealanders were beaten by France in Cardiff.
New Zealand have won two of the three World Cups since. This is a team that know how to win quarter-finals, but they’re still the underdogs.
Ireland are on a 17-Test unbeaten streak, and they’re also looking to break a dreaded curse that’s hung over the Irish for far too long. They’ve never made it past the quarter-finals.
“It gives us confidence that we know what it’s about,” Foster continued.
“In my time, 2015, we had to deal with the demons of Cardiff and France and people talking about 2007. In 2019 it was all about playing a red-hot Irish team who has beaten us the year before and coming into the tournament number one so there is a lot of synergies if you look at the past but what you have heard is that the real lesson is it doesn’t mean anything.
“We have been preparing really well over the last month, we’re ready to go and I’m sure they have too. It should be a great game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
4 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
4 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
4 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments