All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard has come through his first game action back from injury, as he tries to force his way into the national squad for its northern hemisphere tour.
Roigard, 23, made his international debut last year and quickly established himself as the heir apparent to veteran Aaron Smith, who took up a Japanese club contract after the Rugby World Cup.
That elevation was stalled during the Super Rugby Pacific season, when he ruptured the patella tendon in his left knee in March, missing the All Blacks series against England and Rugby Championship fixtures under new coach Scott Robertson.
In his absence, veteran TJ Perenara emerged from the Hurricanes bench to rekindle his career in the black jersey, while rookies Cortez Ratima and Noah Hotham also received their international call-ups.
Robertson is due to name his touring squad on Monday and faces a selection dilemma around the halfback position, but Roigard’s performance will help ease any concerns.
The Steelers trailled 12-7 at halftime, when he replaced starting halfback Jonathan Taumateine, but Roigard needed only five minutes to put his team ahead, darting across for a try from close range, converted from in front of the posts.
Also back from injury, All Blacks flanker Dalton Papali’i dashed 60 metres for a try, before Roigard had his second from 45 metres out, as Counties secured a much-needed bonus point in the race for the NPC playoffs.
He was on hand to put winger Blake Makiri across for his second in the right corner, but Papali’i sent alarm through the national selectors, when he limped off with four minutes remaining.
The 45-26 win all but clinches an NPC quarterfinal spot for Counties Manukau, who now sit seventh on the competition ladder. Canterbury can still promote themselve above them, but the Steelers hold a valuable countback advantage over North Harbour, the team in contention.
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