World Cup 2023 / New Zealand – Namibia – Lightning double by Cam Roegaard
In his first start in the black jersey, young half-half Cam Roegaard showed all his talent and proved that he can be more than just a simple substitute.
Cam Roegaard needed just ten minutes to determine his position and put his stamp on the game. Starting in an All Blacks jersey for the first time in his career, the Hurricanes player was able to capitalize on the trust bestowed in him by his coach, by putting him alongside Damian McKenzie. “In recent weeks, we have been very impressed with his progress in training. It has been a great start for him and he has certainly taken advantage of the opportunity.”Ian Foster beamed.
Behind a victorious set-up, Cam Roegaard, seen by some as a successor to Aaron Smith, who replaced him after an hour of play, allowed the New Zealanders to get the result very quickly and progress through the next two finishes. First in the second half, at the start of a relay at the heart of a brawl from his winger Fainga’anuku, then, five minutes later, at the conclusion of a rally that was pressed on an opposing front. Sticking to the ball, he energized his team’s play, then made his teammates shine on several occasions, most notably by converting a quick penalty kick on McKenzie’s effort (20th minute).
Follow your instinct
At the end of the match, Roegaard enjoyed his performance and the rewarding complicity of the opener: “His attacking style suits me perfectly, so I really enjoyed playing alongside him. It’s great to have teammates who want to pull the trigger and play the attacking rugby we’re looking for.” At the age of 22, the latest Super Rugby appearance has, in addition to his brace, complemented his performance with excellent statistics in attack, including two clear crosses for six beaten defenders and fifty-one tackles. Roegaard often sought to speed up play to move the Namibian defense and make them run. “I just tried to play my role, which is to pass the ball and get out of trouble quickly,” he said. Finish number 9. The rest comes naturally. I received a lot of encouragement during the week to follow my instincts. “It allowed me to relieve pressure.”
The pressure is now weighing on Finley Christie to replace France. Because with Roegaard’s display against Namibia, we are telling ourselves that we should see him again very quickly during the World Cup. In a week against Italy?
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