Rugby World Cup: All Blacks unleash ‘quiet assassin’ Cam Roigard for first test start

Rugby World Cup, Pool A: All Blacks v Namibia. Venue: Stadium de Toulouse. Kickoff: 7am Saturday (NZT). Coverage: Live on Sky Sport 1, live updates on Stuff from 6.3srcam, delayed stream on Stuff at 8.3srcam.

Ardie Savea calls him his “quiet assassin” and fresh-faced halfback Cam Roigard brokers no argument ahead of both his World Cup and All Blacks starting debut in Toulouse on Saturday (NZT).

Roigard is a notable part of a team refresh this week as coach Ian Foster has made nine changes to his starting XV for the second Pool A clash against a Namibia side who were towelled up (52-8) by Italy first up.

Just Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, skipper Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Sam Whitelock and Nepo Laulala survive as starters from their defeat to the hosts in Paris, with the New Zealanders looking to start the restoration project with a breakout performance at Stadium de Toulouse.

Roigard forms an attack-first halves combination with Damian McKenzie, and though he’s far too polite to say so, he will know deep down a standout showing could force his way into the top 23 for the pivotal matches ahead. He has that sort of X-factor.

Stand-in skipper Savea, who deputises for the crocked Sam Cane for the second straight match, has every faith in his young Hurricanes halfback delivering when he runs out, with McKenzie and Caleb Clarke, to make their debuts on the biggest stage of all.