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Wallabies scrum-half Ryan Lonergan has pinpointed some of the qualities that make Cam Roigard such an “attacking threat” for All black peoplewith a potential match between two no. 9 looming in the Bledisloe Cup series opener.
Lonergan has started in all eight Wallabies Tests so far this season, including the last five under relatively new coach Les Kiss. The Australians are on a six-match unbeaten run but will need to avoid defeat at Eden Park to start that run.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks will look to bounce back after losing Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series 3-1 to the Springboks. Roigard featured in the run-on side in all four of those matches, after starting the year with three starts in the Nations Championship.
Roigard helped Hurricanes claim a drought-inducing title Super Rugby Pacific last season, which included a qualifying final triumph over ACT Brumbies the Lonergan-led outfit, but the pair are yet to face each other at Test level.
Lonergan made his debut for the Wallabies 374 days ago on Tuesday, off the bench against the All Blacks at Eden Park. But after becoming a regular starter for the Wallabies and a goal-kicking option in recent games, the stage is set for this potential positional duel.
“He’s a great player. He’s been a class act for them, he’s a big attacking threat. He’s obviously got a great left foot,” Lonergan told reporters in Auckland.
“It’s going to be exciting. Obviously we’ve met a few times, but not at Test level.”
“It would be fun. He’s obviously a threat in trouble and he’s setting the time around the fights, so we know that, we’ve looked into it a little bit and we’re going to do our best to shut him down.”
Coach Joe Schmidt has selected Lonergan in the First XV for the Wallabies’ opening match of the new Nations Championship, with the No.9 joining Carter Gordon in the halves. But Gordon has since spent some time on the sidelines with injury.
Ben Donaldson made a string of starts, while Declan Meredith made his Wallaby gold debut after a breakthrough season with the ACT Brumbies. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips remains unrestricted but is another option in the 34-man squad.
“It doesn’t really change the way I play a lot,” Lonergan said.
“Each 10 has its own stamp that it can put on the game and I think the 10s we have here are quite unique in their own way.
“In terms of my game, I don’t think it’s really changed how I approach what I need to do and don’t do throughout the game.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing alongside all the boys so far. They’ve done a great job, helping each other out and performing so it’s been nice.”
