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The former All Black halfback that Cam Roigard is drawing comparisons with
By Kim Ekin
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.
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.
"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.
"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."
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Latest Comments
Not if England are going to give him a couple o appearances a year for a 200k top up, he won’t need to break into the top group. This is not the ABs in more ways than just England matching them in loose fowards.
His skill set will be unique though!
Go to commentsThe extent to which rugby pundits in NZ rely on their rose tinted spectacles really baffles me. Anton Lienert-Brown has been a good but nothing more player for a few seasons now. For an experienced player he gives a maddening amount of penalties and yellow cards too so I don’t give him any credit for all that experience.
If you had a clean slate and knew nothing about history, the guy wouldn’t be anywhere near people’s choice for 13 (or 12) if you only watch super rugby the last couple of seasons. Bailyn Sullivan / Billy Proctor / AJ Lam / Tavatavanawai to just just a few have all looked miles better than ALB.
How on earth does that end up with people saying he should be in the squad let alone starting. We have to move on from these type of players - he was never a great player and we have so many alternate options.
There is a group of mediocre players that we need to clear out, or at least try other options. We know how limited that group are, now is the time to see if some other talent can step up (the time was last year, but anyway…).
Jacobson, ALB, Papali’i, Christie, Lord, Havili, Reece. Just move on from them all and try for some upside. Thank god Cane/Perenara have finally moved on because they were in this camp too.
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