All Blacks on claim Cam Roigard involved in protocol breach

The All Blacks are insisting that in-form scrumhalf Cam Roigard was not involved in any breach of team protocol in the lead-up to their crunch quarter-final match with Ireland in Paris this weekend.

Roigard was not named in the 23, with head coach Ian Foster preferring Finlay Christie on the bench with Aaron Smith starting against the world number ones.

His omission comes as winger Mark Telea was dropped from the team for a breach of team protocol, the details of which have not been elaborated on, although RugbyPass understands it related to team downtime.

This week Roigard was named as having his contract with the NZR extended.

"What would make you think it was discipline?" said Foster when quizzed on whether Roigard had stepped out of line. "We just felt it was horses for courses for this particular game. We think Finlay has an edge defensively. I think there will be a lot of action around the ruck defensively. 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.

"I am not going to talk about it again. It's minor," said Foster of the Telea incident. "I think it says volumes, we believe what we stand for. I think that speaks volumes for the team when we make that sort of decision."

Ardie Savea backed Foster's call on the wayward winger, saying: "Look, Foz has obviously addressed it. It is what it is. We love him but he won't be looking forward to a game this Friday."

Meanwhile, Roigard had at least an extension with the Hurricanes to celebrate as the NZR looked to lock down their latest halfback find.

The 22-year-old halfback has been a revelation for the Hurricanes after a breakout 2023 Super Rugby Pacific. He ended up closing out the season as the club’s joint top try-scorer with nine tries in 14 games.

Roigard has scored two tries at the Rugby World Cup, had a hand in three try assists, and was named man of the match in his first game of the tournament against Namibia in Toulouse.