As the All Blacks gear up for their formidable Grand Slam tour featuring back-to-back weekend clashes with Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales, former All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald is putting his money on Cam Roigard to steal the spotlight. November, according to Donald, will be the defining moment for the young scrum-half to show the world his mettle.
Despite being the first-choice scrum-half, Roigard, at only 24, has had limited exposure on the international stage, particularly in the northern hemisphere. Last year's Autumn Nations Series saw him just coming back from a long-term injury, affecting his playtime. However, this year, after overcoming some early setbacks, Roigard shone brightly in the Bledisloe Cup matches against the Wallabies, hinting at his readiness for the bigger stage.
"It’s Cam Roigard. He wasn’t there fully [last year]. The microscope that goes on the All Blacks when they go on these end-of-year tours, it will be huge for the brand of Cam Roigard,"
Donald, speaking on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav, emphasized the transformative potential of the upcoming tour for Roigard:
"He goes out there and he announces himself. He’s still in a position to announce himself to the world and I think this will be the time he does. You’re a bit out of sight, out of mind to the northern eyes down here, but I think he goes up there and he announces himself properly."
While the All Blacks are currently second in the World Rugby rankings, following a heavy home defeat to the Springboks, the upcoming tour presents an opportunity for redemption. However, Donald remains skeptical about regaining the top spot, given the Springboks' favorable schedule against teams like Japan, France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales.
"That’s a nice tour [for the Springboks] because for every big game there’s probably a weaker game the following week," Donald noted, highlighting the strategic advantage South Africa holds with its relatively balanced schedule. He anticipates a clean sweep for the Springboks, particularly eyeing the France match as a "blockbuster" at the Stade de France—a rematch of last year's controversial quarter-final.
As the northern tour unfolds, all eyes will be on Roigard, with the rugby world keen to see if the young All Black can live up to Donald's high expectations and truly announce himself on the world stage.
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As the All Blacks gear up for their formidable Grand Slam tour featuring back-to-back weekend clashes with Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales, former All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald is putting his money on Cam Roigard to steal the spotlight. November, according to Donald, will be the defining moment for the young scrum-half to show the world his mettle.
Despite being the first-choice scrum-half, Roigard, at only 24, has had limited exposure on the international stage, particularly in the northern hemisphere. Last year's Autumn Nations Series saw him just coming back from a long-term injury, affecting his playtime. However, this year, after overcoming some early setbacks, Roigard shone brightly in the Bledisloe Cup matches against the Wallabies, hinting at his readiness for the bigger stage.
"It’s Cam Roigard. He wasn’t there fully [last year]. The microscope that goes on the All Blacks when they go on these end-of-year tours, it will be huge for the brand of Cam Roigard,"
Donald, speaking on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav, emphasized the transformative potential of the upcoming tour for Roigard:
"He goes out there and he announces himself. He’s still in a position to announce himself to the world and I think this will be the time he does. You’re a bit out of sight, out of mind to the northern eyes down here, but I think he goes up there and he announces himself properly."
While the All Blacks are currently second in the World Rugby rankings, following a heavy home defeat to the Springboks, the upcoming tour presents an opportunity for redemption. However, Donald remains skeptical about regaining the top spot, given the Springboks' favorable schedule against teams like Japan, France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales.
"That’s a nice tour [for the Springboks] because for every big game there’s probably a weaker game the following week," Donald noted, highlighting the strategic advantage South Africa holds with its relatively balanced schedule. He anticipates a clean sweep for the Springboks, particularly eyeing the France match as a "blockbuster" at the Stade de France—a rematch of last year's controversial quarter-final.
As the northern tour unfolds, all eyes will be on Roigard, with the rugby world keen to see if the young All Black can live up to Donald's high expectations and truly announce himself on the world stage.