All Black star Cam Roigard has caused a stir on social media after an unsportsmanlike incident in the opening minutes of the Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Blues.
The Hurricanes would continue their incredible form this season and hammer the Blues 57-21. Roigard later scored a try in the game after the incident.
Roigard responded to fans a few days after the game and insisted that he wasn’t “milking it”.
What happened to Roigard?
90 seconds into the match, Roigard got underneath a high Blues kick and was taken out in the air by fellow All Black Beauden Barrett.
The referee correctly gave a penalty for the collision, and Roigard remained on the floor.
The part that makes the incident particularly unsportsmanlike is the fact that Blues players came to check he was ok. They cared about his safety and well-being. Roigard took advantage of the Blues’ backline being split as players came to see him, and after slowly rising to his feet, took a quick tap and made a 40-metre break down the field.
After getting tackled on the 22-metre line, the Hurricanes went on to score through Jordie Barrett and took an early lead in the match.
The comparison to football
Fans will compare this incident to football, and it is reminiscent of something you would see in the Premier League.
Incidents where players fake or exaggerate, and try to get an advantage for their team while bending the intention of the rules.
While not as extreme this David Luiz incident, it does instantly remind of the intent that Roigard had.
Luiz was kicked by Rafael and the incident was deserving of a red card. The centre back lay on the ground to show how serious the incident had been and was famously caught smiling towards the opposition fans and the camera.
ReadRugbyUnion reacts:
Roigard is an outstanding scrum half and based on form should be starting in a black jersey this summer. This incident does show a slightly different side to his game, however. This can either be seen as a positive or a drawback. He definitely has a want to win and get an advantage for his team, but this also can go against the spirit of the game of rugby. The Blues players showed that spirit by checking in on Roigard, but it is definitely something that needs to be maintained in the game.
This could have most easily been avoided by the referee calling him back instead of letting him take a quick tap.
