New Zealand's scrum-half Cam Roigard shared his mixed emotions as he prepares to compete in the upcoming Bledisloe Cup, following a tough series against South Africa. Despite a victorious start at Ellis Park, the All Blacks were handed three consecutive losses, culminating in a series defeat of 3-1. With a brief hiatus after their intense campaign, Roigard and his team are set to defend their long-held Bledisloe Cup against a formidable Australian squad.
The Wallabies, under the leadership of new coach Les Kiss, have been on a winning streak and pose a significant threat to the All Blacks, who have proudly held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003. A loss in this year's contest would be particularly painful for New Zealand. Roigard highlighted the peculiar momentum of their season, which involved a long tour followed by a brief break, only to head into another intense period of competition.
"It's been weird to be honest having such a long tour and then a few weeks off. It kind of felt like it was the end of season tour in a sense," Roigard told Sport Nation. "Having the longest stint is normally at the end of the campaign or the calendar year so it's been a little bit weird knowing that we were coming back in for a short stint before a long one again."
The All Blacks faced formidable challenges during the South Africa series, particularly in set-pieces and kick receptions, areas where they typically excel. These shortcomings allowed the Springboks to dominate and ultimately secure the series victory. Roigard expressed his frustration over the team's inability to rectify these issues as the series progressed.
"The frustrating thing over the last three games were the reasons we didn't get the results was for similar reasons when it came down to small margins," he added. "When we needed to be accurate, we weren't and things like discipline let us down for more than one game. Things like that sting a little bit more when you're not learning or adapting as fast as what you need to at that level, especially against a quality side like South Africa."
Despite these setbacks, the energy within the camp remains high, with Roigard and his teammates eager to reclaim their winning form in the upcoming Bledisloe Cup matches. The challenge is significant, but the All Blacks are no strangers to pressure and are looking forward to competing against the in-form Wallabies.
Roigard concluded with a focus on the importance of mental and physical preparation, recognizing the tough road ahead but also the resilience and determination of his team. "It’s a massive challenge ahead, it's not getting any easier but we love that in this group and it’s all eyes ahead for Saturday," he stated, reflecting the team's readiness to face Australia and their aspirations to retain the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
