Just when Scott Robertson thought his scrumhalf cupboard was bare, along comes Cam Roigard, sprinting back from injury just in time for a Rugby Championship face-off against the Aussies. After a seven-week hiatus thanks to a frisky foot fracture, Roigard is lacing up again, much to the relief of All Blacks fans everywhere.
It was during a victorious skirmish with France in July that Roigard’s right foot decided to take a sabbatical, leaving him on the sidelines for the initial bouts of the Rugby Championship. Now, he's poised to hit the pitch again this Saturday, albeit off the bench for Counties Manukau in a do-or-die NPC showdown against Auckland.
Roigard’s return couldn’t be better timed. The All Blacks have been playing musical chairs with their No 9s, having already fielded Cortez Ratima, Finlay Christie, and Noah Hotham, not to mention Kyle Preston’s debut in a nail-biter against the Springboks. With Ratima nursing a rib injury and Hotham out with a busted fibula, Roigard’s comeback is nothing short of miraculous for Robertson’s lineup.
"It doesn’t feel like I’ve been out long, but it’s been seven weeks and I’m just excited to get back into rugby,"
Aside from Roigard's antics, the All Blacks are releasing a baker’s dozen of their finest to provincial duties, including speedsters Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane, who will be donning the Auckland jersey.
The All Blacks, currently third in the Rugby Championship stakes behind the Wallabies and neck-and-neck with the Springboks—with Argentina breathing down their necks—need every point they can muster. Roigard himself has emphasized the need for consistent excellence down the stretch.
"The challenge now is stacking performances, not just winning one week and dropping the next. The Rugby Championship is so tight, so that could be the difference,"
For now, Roigard is zeroing in on surviving his NPC comeback unscathed. "I just want to get through this weekend," he noted, eyes already on a bigger prize—reclaiming his spot with the All Blacks, should his provincial play pass muster.
As the Rugby Championship drama unfolds, Roigard’s return could just be the plot twist New Zealand needs to keep their championship hopes alive and kicking.
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Just when Scott Robertson thought his scrumhalf cupboard was bare, along comes Cam Roigard, sprinting back from injury just in time for a Rugby Championship face-off against the Aussies. After a seven-week hiatus thanks to a frisky foot fracture, Roigard is lacing up again, much to the relief of All Blacks fans everywhere.
It was during a victorious skirmish with France in July that Roigard’s right foot decided to take a sabbatical, leaving him on the sidelines for the initial bouts of the Rugby Championship. Now, he's poised to hit the pitch again this Saturday, albeit off the bench for Counties Manukau in a do-or-die NPC showdown against Auckland.
Roigard’s return couldn’t be better timed. The All Blacks have been playing musical chairs with their No 9s, having already fielded Cortez Ratima, Finlay Christie, and Noah Hotham, not to mention Kyle Preston’s debut in a nail-biter against the Springboks. With Ratima nursing a rib injury and Hotham out with a busted fibula, Roigard’s comeback is nothing short of miraculous for Robertson’s lineup.
"It doesn’t feel like I’ve been out long, but it’s been seven weeks and I’m just excited to get back into rugby,"
Aside from Roigard's antics, the All Blacks are releasing a baker’s dozen of their finest to provincial duties, including speedsters Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane, who will be donning the Auckland jersey.
The All Blacks, currently third in the Rugby Championship stakes behind the Wallabies and neck-and-neck with the Springboks—with Argentina breathing down their necks—need every point they can muster. Roigard himself has emphasized the need for consistent excellence down the stretch.
"The challenge now is stacking performances, not just winning one week and dropping the next. The Rugby Championship is so tight, so that could be the difference,"
For now, Roigard is zeroing in on surviving his NPC comeback unscathed. "I just want to get through this weekend," he noted, eyes already on a bigger prize—reclaiming his spot with the All Blacks, should his provincial play pass muster.
As the Rugby Championship drama unfolds, Roigard’s return could just be the plot twist New Zealand needs to keep their championship hopes alive and kicking.