All Blacks: Cam Roigard reveals timeline on possible return to Test action
All Blacks scrum-half Cam Roigard on his way to try against Springboks.
Cam Roigard has revealed that he should be in contention for a recall to the All Blacks matchday squad when they host the Wallabies at Eden Park later this month after returning to provincial action this weekend.
Roigard has been sidelined due to a stress fracture in his right foot, which he sustained during New Zealand’s three-Test series against France in July.
The 24-year-old was the All Blacks‘ starting scrum-half for their first two Tests against Les Bleus in Dunedin and Wellington before being rested for the third clash in Hamilton.
Missed the Rugby Championship’s start
He revealed that he only sustained his injury in the build-up to the All Blacks’ opening Rugby Championship Tests against Argentina in Cordoba and Buenos Aires last month.
“It wasn’t until the week off, so we had a few weeks off post the July series before we were set to go to Argie, and it was all good during the French series, but just sort of crept up out of nowhere, and then just one of the sessions, (I) felt it a little bit when I was doing some accelerations,” Roigard told DSPN‘s Day In The Life show with John Day.
“I thought, ‘Oh, that’s funny,’ but the pain went away, so I was like, ‘Oh, it must be sweet’.
“Finished the running session, and then once I stopped, I was like, ‘Oh, gee, something’s actually not right here’. And then (it) just got worse and worse, and then sure enough, a bit of bone stress in the third metatarsal, but it’s just really good to be back and being able to play some footy this weekend, it’s really exciting.”
Roigard will return to action for Counties Manukau in Saturday’s NPC clash with Auckland in Pukekohe and is set to face fellow All Blacks Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane, who will be available for the visitors.
He admitted to looking forward to the prospect of facing his international teammates if they are included in Auckland’s matchday squad for the clash and is hoping to get significant game time this weekend.
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‘It’ll be good fun to play against them’
“I’m looking forward to playing them,” said Roigard. “I’m pretty sure they’re playing but it’ll be good fun to play against them.
“I think roughly around 30 minutes (game-time), which will be good. It’ll be good to hopefully close out the game, be able to help out the boys on the bench.
“And we’ll be able to do a good job. We haven’t played Auckland in quite a few years, to my understanding, and I think it’s been around seven or eight (years) since we’ve beaten them, so it’s going to be an awesome challenge.”
On his chances of making the All Blacks matchday squad for the eagerly anticipated clash with the Wallabies at Eden Park on September 27, Roigard is confident of being in New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson’s plans if he decides to use him.
“It’s definitely a possibility now that I’m back playing,” he said.
“Obviously, my main focus is just trying to get out there and blow off the cobwebs this weekend.
“So it’ll be really good to get a good 30-minute stint. Hopefully my pass accuracy, my ruck speed, and my fitness isn’t too far off and (I’m) able to make some tackles and a few collisions where I feel like I’m ready to perform for the All Blacks.
“And if I pull up all good, my foot sweet, which I’m sure it will be and if I’m available and they think that I can do a good job, then no doubt I’ll be able to step in and do what’s needed for sure.”
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