The All Black Cam Roigard 'tried to mould my game around'
As the adage goes, you should never meet your heroes – but Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard would have to disagree.
Growing up as budding scrum-half, Roigard “tried to mould my game around” Super Rugby veteran TJ Perenara. Years later, the pair became teammates at the Hurricanes.
But disaster struck for both the Canes and Perenara during last year’s end-of-season tour, as the All Black ruptured his Achilles during their stunning draw with England.
Perenara was suddenly in a race to bit fit ahead of the World Cup in France, while his understudy at the Hurricanes was set for a ground-breaking Super Rugby campaign.
And so far, Roigard has made the most of it.
Roigard had a coming of age performance against the Waratahs in Wellington last week, and has emerged as a genuine All Blacks bolter ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup.
But the 22-year-old wouldn’t be the player he is today without Perenara.
In an interview with RugbyPass, Roigard spoke about how his life has come “full circle” after idolising Perenara growing up.
“Probably the main one is probably TJ because I have a left foot, he has a left foot,” Roigard said.
“As I grew up I started getting a bit taller so I knew I wasn’t going to be a halfback like Aaron Smith, so I probably saw myself playing a bit more like TJ.
“It’s gone a bit full circle being able to train and play alongside him which is pretty awesome.
“I’d say it’s probably TJ that I tried to mould my game around a little bit growing up.”
Perenara played for a lot of different teams last year, before earning a Test recall during the Autumn Nations Series.
After starring for the Hurricanes and winning the NPC with Wellington, Perenara went on to impress for the Maori All Blacks, the All Blacks XV, and later the national team.
But that’s when disaster struck.
In only his second game back in black, Perenara sustained a cruel injury blow in the dying stages of the All Blacks’ stunning draw with England at Twickenham.
Perenara could be seen limping from the field late in the piece, and was reportedly facing a nine month stint on the sidelines.
While the 80-Test All Black is on track to return for the Hurricanes this season, his injury hasn’t stopped him from playing his part.
“There’s a lot of little gems that he shares and that I’ve seen through him over the years,” Roigard added.
“Obviously he’s focused on his rehab… and he’s nailing that the moment which is awesome, but he’s not shy to give me some tips or just mentor because he comes in to the odd training now.
“His influence and experience is definitely carrying over into the team, even though he’s not training with our full squad or playing.
“He’s definitely still got massive value for the team at the moment.”
As reported earlier this week, Roigard admitted that he’s thought about the possibility of pushing onto higher honours with the All Blacks.
There are at least six halfbacks in New Zealand who are seemingly in the mix for World Cup selection, and Roigard is widely considered to be one of them.
“Thinking back, Nehe Milner Skudder, he was a bolter as such so you do sort of start to think that maybe it is possible.
“But I think if you do get caught up in that stuff you probably change the way you play in terms of probably playing a bit selfish.
“At the moment I’m just trying to play as well as I can for the Canes and hopefully win our Super Rugby title.
“That’s all I’m focused on at the moment and whatever happens from there, whatever happens, happens.”
Roigard will start in the No. 9 jersey again this week, as the Hurricanes prepare to take on Moana Pasifika in Auckland on Saturday evening.
Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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