All Black Cam Roigard injured as Hurricanes register big win over Highlanders

All Black Cam Roigard has suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury as the Hurricanes made yet another Super Rugby Pacific statement down south in Dunedin against the Highlanders.

The Highlanders were no match for their New Zealand rivals as the table-topping Hurricanes extended their unbeaten run to six matches with a 47-12 win on Saturday evening.

Playing away from home at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Hurricanes took the potential crowd factor out of the equation with a series of stunning tries during the first half.

Peter Lakai, Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Cam Roigard scored as the Hurricanes ran up an utterly emphatic 26-nil in less than 30 minutes of play, and they didn’t let up after the break either.

Josh Moorby scored an intercept try about one minute into the second 40 which in itself summed up the Highlanders’ night. For the most part, everything just seemed to click for the Hurricanes.

But All Blacks fans will hold their breath as one as they await the prognosis for Roigard’s injury.

Once the match got underway at the iconic rugby stadium in New Zealand’s south island, the Hurricanes quickly took control with front-foot ball and the confidence to show for it.

It was a bit of kicking ball to start the fixture but once the Hurricanes turned it on or started to take control, the visitors didn’t look back.

All Blacks and Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard was reeled down just short of the try line by the Highlanders’ Jacob Ratumaitavuku-Kneepkens, but the fullback was shown a yellow card moments later following an infringement at the breakdown.

With a one-man advantage, the Hurricanes went for the scrum.

Roigard went close again, as did Braydon Iose and Billy Proctor in the phases that followed, but eventually, Xavier Numia forced his way over for the opening points of the night.

The Hurricanes weren’t done there, either.

If you’re a football fan, you’d be familiar with the ‘one-two’ phrase. That’s the best and easiest way to describe the Hurricanes’ next try as they began to really take control of this fixture.

Halfback Cam Roigard picked up the ball at the ruck without much structure present in the Hurricanes’ attack. There wasn’t much on but two forwards combined for something special.

Openside flanker Peter Lakai sent Caleb Delany through a gap before the loosehead prop returned the favour with a well-worked draw-and-pass which led to score.

With Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens still watching on from the sidelines, Lakai ran in untouched for his second try of the season and the Hurricanes’ second five-pointer of the night.

The Highlanders looked likely to score next after wing Jona Nareki managed to reel in a clever chip kick downfield, but after an error a few phases later, play was brought to a halt.

Nareki was down in back play and appeared to be in some discomfort. The No. 11, who had been the Highlanders best play up until that point, was replaced in a tough blow for the hosts.

Pressure continued to mount on the Highlanders’ shoulders as their New Zealand rivals made a lengthy burst down the field and eventually had an attacking lineout in a try-scoring position.

The Hurricanes’ maul was temporarily brought to a halt before gradually making their way forward, and the forwards in yellow were rewarded with one of their own crossing over.

Team co-vice-captain Asafo Aumua crashed over for the third try of the night with the table-topping Hurricanes looking supremely confident down south in Dunedin.

Only a couple of minutes later, the men from the capital were back in familiar territory. Five metres out from the try line, they set up for phase play. Cam Roigard was the difference in this moment.

Trust in Cam Roigard 😌#SuperRugbyPacific #HIGvHUR pic.twitter.com/dKtw6ATP74

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 30, 2024

Roigard, 23, sliced through the Highlanders defence. The successful conversion from Brett Cameron gave the visitors an utterly dominant 26-nil lead after less than 30 minutes of play.

Errors continued to cost the Highlanders as the half-time hooter began to warm up. Rhys Patchell failed to find touch with a kick for the corner, and other inaccuracies saw them fall short of points.

The Hurricanes went into the sheds with a 26-nil lead.

Looking to make a strong start to the second term, it couldn’t have gone much worse for the Highlanders.

They had all the ball but an intercept from Rhys Patchell saw the Canes score down the other end. Winger Josh Moorby dotted the ball down in front of ‘the Zoo’ about one minute into the second 40.

33-nil.

But halfback Folau Fakatava did give the Dunedin crowd something to smile about shortly after scoring the Highlanders’ first try and points of this highly anticipated New Zealand derby.

Fooled ‘em, Folau!#SuperRugbyPacific #HIGvHUR pic.twitter.com/MgbAtFZTqi

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 30, 2024

Minutes continued to tick by as both teams traded blows around the middle of the field.

Unfortunately, the next moment to note was a seemingly serious knee injury to Cam Roigard. The All Black had a green whistle as he left the field on a stretcher with just over 20 minutes to play in the contest.

But with one All Black going off in Roigard, the Hurricanes had the luxury of calling upon another New Zealand international to come on as a game driver at halfback.

Test veteran TJ Perenara came onto the park and didn’t take too long to make an impact. The replacement crossed for his 60th try in Super Rugby Pacific which is just one behind Julian Savea’s all-time record.

Fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens scored with four minutes left to run on the clock, but Hurricanes replacement Justin Sangster cancelled out that effort with another try in the final play of the match.