Jamie Roberts has based himself halfway across the world to find himself in the most Welsh of situations...the elusive search for a rugby victory over the Kiwis.
At 35, there are still rugby challenges for him to meet. Roberts must step up to the frenetic pace of the Chiefs when he plays at inside centre for the NSW Waratahs on Friday night in Melbourne.
The 7pm (AEST) opener to Super Round at AAMI Park can hopefully be a wonderful measure of competitiveness and theatre now Super Rugby Pacific is a full trans-Tasman spectacle.
Waratahs assistant coach Jason Gilmore warned that the Chiefs were “like a structured Fijian side” with their flairy offloads and attacks off turnovers. The brakes have to be applied to slow their supply of fast ball.
Roberts was a central figure to so many highlights during his 94 Tests for Wales yet departed the international arena without ever tasting victory over the All Blacks.
He had a 0-10 ledger in Tests against the All Blacks.
When he racked his mind today, Roberts could readily turn up just one win over Kiwi opposition in his entire 15-year career.
He shared in the famous 25-18 win by the Barbarians over the All Blacks at Twickenham in 2009 when he had the help of three-try Bryan Habana, Matt Giteau, Victor Matfield and a star cast.
“The All Blacks are always the benchmark and the (NZ) Super Rugby sides are no different,” Roberts said.
“Wales have not beaten the All Blacks since 1953 so, mate, it’s not a record that any Welshman can be proud of.”
For Roberts, this chance to play the Kiwis in Super Rugby Pacific links both his childhood and his final southern hemisphere rugby adventure.
“As a youngster in Wales, I grew up watching Super Rugby on TV on Saturday mornings with Australian, South African and Kiwi sides going at it,” he said.
“To be able to test myself at this level at this stage of my career is a privilege.
“Having this experience with the Waratahs is awesome. And here we are, at a point of the season where we get to find out more about ourselves.”
The Waratahs’ 2021 season unraveled against the Kiwi sides with 40 tries conceded in just five losses.
Roberts wasn’t even in the country at the time but he’s spoken to enough of his 2022 teammates to know how big the improvements have been under head coach Darren Coleman.
“The lads talk about the environment being chalk-and-cheese (compared to 2021). I really think the improvements have been on both sides of the ball.
“We enjoy a brand of rugby where we are scoring tries but we’re not soft on “D’. We’ve been one of the most resilient sides on defence and there’s still room for improvement in our game.”
Roberts said playing in a squad with so many young players on the rise made his own experience more satisfying.
“Someone like Tane Edmed. I just like his confidence and the very good kick, pass and run decisions he makes for a 21-year-old,” Roberts said.
“He’s a tough cookie and has all the tools to play at the top level.”
The 5-3 Waratahs sit fifth entering this tough block of games against the Kiwi sides and Moana Pasifika. They are out to snap a run of 10 straight defeats from Kiwi opponents.
As much as any other side, the Waratahs have benefitted from this season being split into a large Australian-based block before the tougher Kiwi games. It allowed the Waratahs to regroup after the 0-13 shambles of 2021.
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“Considering what we came off, it has given us a chance to get more momentum in our performances,” assistant coach Jason Gilmore said.
A far starchier defence will be one of the Waratahs’ biggest assets against the Chiefs after a 40-7 calamity when the sides met last year.
Gilmore has analysed the key facets of the Chiefs’ game.
“The key is probably ruck speed. They are very effective there and it becomes their ability to play fast,” Gilmore warned.
“If we can muscle up and slow their ruck speed, that brings us back into the game. It allows your defence to regenerate and go again.”
The Waratahs have developed some smart and controlled interchanges between forwards and backs going direct up the middle which will be part of their methods.
