'It's there for him': Cam Roigard continues to stake All Blacks claim

Halfback Cam Roigard is shaping up as a genuine All Blacks bolter ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup after a stellar start to this season’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

As a kid, Roigard modelled his game off Rugby World Cup winning scrumhalf TJ Perenara. Years later, the pair became teammates at the Canes.

But the Hurricanes were dealt a cruel blow late last year – before their season had ever begun. Perenara ruptured his Achilles against England, which ruled him out for a majority of this season.

Following in the footsteps of a giant, All Blacks XV representative Roigard hasn’t looked out of place in the Hurricanes’ starting XV.

The 22-year-old has made the No. 9 jersey his own in the capital, and could even be set for higher honours after an impressive run of form.

Following a standout display against the Highlanders in round seven, Roigard’s provincial coach Reon Graham said the opportunity for a Test debut was “there for him.”

“He’s not thinking about that,” Counties Manukau coach Reon Graham told SENZ’s The Rugby Run.

“It’s there for him but he’s not overthinking it, he’s one of those guys that does take it in his stride.

“In terms of it being too early, probably if he did miss out he wouldn’t be phased by that, that would just drive him on to have a decent crack at it again in the future.

“He’s always first to admit that he’s still learning and still growing himself as well so I think either way, big things (are) coming at some stage.”

Roigard looked cool, calm and collected throughout a heat New Zealand derby at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

Without injured halves partner Brett Cameron, the rising star led the Canes around the park with grace and poise – and sparked a try-scoring blitz in the second half.

Roigard set up lock James Blackwell for a try just after the break, and crossed for his one of his own shortly after.

The halfback intercepted a flick pass from his opposite Folau Fakatava, and ran about 70 metres to the house.

“He’s a competitor and always striving to get better in everything he does,” Graham added.

Cam Roigard has emerged as a potential RWC bolter after his “best performance in the Canes jersey.”

The halfback spoke with @FinnMorton5 ✍️ https://t.co/bIRM780KBE

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 22, 2023

“(He’s a) really good guy to have around the team environment, as I say he’s just always competing, that’s probably the best way to describe him really.

“Anybody that knows him would agree that he’s always trying to get the best out of himself and others around him.”

Last month, Roigard spoke with RugbyPass about the possibility of playing for the All Blacks sometime this year.

“Purely because of the chat and all that sort of stuff, I wouldn’t be getting this interview if I wasn’t playing alright,” he told RugbyPass.

“Thinking back, Nehe Milner-Skudder, he was a bolter as such so you do sort of start to think that maybe it is possible.

“But I think if you do get caught up in that stuff you probably change the way you play in terms of probably playing a bit selfish.

“At the moment I’m just trying to play as well as I can for the Canes and hopefully win our Super Rugby title. That’s all I’m focused on at the moment and whatever happens from there, whatever happens, happens.”

The Hurricanes’ 29-14 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin saw them rise to first on the Super Rugby Pacific standings.

But the second-placed Chiefs, who are equal on competition points, are coming off a bye and have a game in hand over the team from the capital.

The Hurricanes and Roigard will travel to Hamilton in round eight to take on the Chiefs in what could be one of the games of the season.