Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Ian Foster praises Cam Roigard after ‘impressive’ start to All Blacks career

Cam Roigard of New Zealand breaks clear with the ball to score the team's first try during the Summer International match between New Zealand All Blacks v South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on August 25, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

When the full-time siren sounded at Twickenham on Friday night, the All Blacks didn’t have a lot to smile about. They’d lost, badly, to their arch-rivals South Africa.

ADVERTISEMENT

Playing in front of more than 80,000 people in London, the Springboks made a statement ahead of next month’s Rugby World Cup with a 35-7 win.

But there was one shining light for the New Zealanders on one of the darkest days in the history of the All Blacks. Cam Roigard was simply sensational off the bench.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

The two-Test All Black made his debut in front of almost 84,000 people at the world-famous MCG in Australia last month, but hasn’t been called upon by coach Foster since.

But back in black to play the Boks, Roigard didn’t look out of place. The rising star appears more than ready to shine at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

Roigard is made for the big stage.

The All Blacks were beaten in all facets of the Test on Friday, but the replacement helped breathe new life into an underperforming side late in the piece.

Roigard, 22, helped the All Blacks avoid the dreaded ‘naught’ by scoring a brilliant solo try. The electric No. 22 created something special out of nothing.

ADVERTISEMENT

The rising star made another half-break or two before the Test was done, and was both reliable and quick with his passing game as well.

Roigard is certainly a player to watch at the World Cup.

“I think he’s been impressive the way he’s trained and we said we just really wanted to get him on the park again,” coach Ian Foster told reporters on Saturday.

“We’re impressed with him at the MCG and enjoyed his training and I thought he came in really calm.

“There was a lot of young players on the park in that second half and it wasn’t easy for them to get the cohesion that they wanted but I thought he looked really calm and did what he does well.”

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo vs Kubota Spears | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 Final | Full Match Replay

Saitama Wild Knights vs Kobe Steelers | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 Bronze Final | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 42 | Investec Champions Cup Final Review

Spain's Incredible Rugby Sevens Journey to the World Championship Final | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 14

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
D
Driss 653 days ago

He will be the 9 for all blacks and surely for razor. Smith can go . There are depth in 9 : Roigard ratima Fakatava Noham …

Maybe problem in 10 without Richie next year but there are youngers : Morgan burke McMillan kehanna love..

And McKenzie will stay .

Scott Robertson is a specialist to rebuild teams and a strong pack.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

T
TokoRFC 2 hours ago
Super Rugby Pacific's greatest season stained by one playoff game

Mate, what TK and Ben Smith are forgetting is that a comp needs more games that matter, and its a balancing act getting that right.

They haven’t understood that having so many teams fighting over the 6th spot is what fueled the back end of the regular season. Not to mention the games to decide the top end of the finals seeding. It would have been a bit flat if the 4 bottom teams were out of the running with a few rounds still to go.


The current finals format is a bit funny to get used to, I agree. But if they sort out the scheduling guff where the BRU vs HUR match could have been a non knockout game, as well as giving more punishment for the lucky looser (dropping them to 4th seed in the semis). The current format creates more meaningful matches than the alternatives.


Some examples of finals formats:


Top 6 14 matches that matter

With the improvements above, the current system creates 6 competitive finals, plus say 8 matches in the regular season that are effectively knockout games. 14 games that definitely matter. Plus some games to decide the finals seeding in there too.


Top 4 10 matches that matter

3 finals matches and say 6 games to fight over the top 4. At a best case you may get 12 crucial games


If offered the choice, the sponsors, the broadcasters, the fans, the players and the all blacks selectors would all take more meaningful games over any alternative format.

23 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Can Glasgow banish their Dublin ghosts? Can Glasgow banish their Dublin ghosts?
Search