Lonergan sizes up Roigard ahead of Bledisloe Cup No. 9 duel at Eden Park

Ryan Lonergan has spoken candidly about the qualities that make All Blacks scrum-half Cam Roigard such a dangerous opponent, with the two No. 9s set to square off in the Bledisloe Cup series opener at Eden Park in Auckland.

Lonergan has started all eight of Australia’s Tests this season, including the last five under head coach Les Kiss. The Wallabies arrive on the back of a six-match unbeaten streak, though they will need to avoid defeat at a ground that has historically been unkind to Australian sides to keep that run alive.

New Zealand, meanwhile, are looking to regroup after losing the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series 3-1 to South Africa. Roigard started all four of those fixtures and had previously featured in three starts during the Nations Championship earlier in the year.

“He’s a great player. He’s been class for them, he’s a great attacking threat. He’s obviously got a great left foot there,” Lonergan told reporters in Auckland. “It’s going to be exciting. Obviously versed each other a few times, not at Test level though. It’d be good fun. He’s obviously a threat around the ruck and set-piece time around the scrums so we know that — we previewed that a little bit and we’ll do our best to shut him down.”

The two have crossed paths at club level. Roigard was instrumental as the Hurricanes claimed a drought-breaking Super Rugby Pacific title last season, which included a Qualifying Final win over an ACT Brumbies side captained by Lonergan. A Test-level meeting, however, has yet to materialise — though that is about to change.

Lonergan made his Wallabies debut 374 days ago, coming off the bench against the All Blacks at the same venue. Since then he has cemented his place as the first-choice No. 9 and has become the team’s preferred goal-kicker in recent matches.

The Wallabies’ halfback depth has been tested by injury to Carter Gordon, who partnered Lonergan in the halves when coach Joe Schmidt named the pair for the opening Nations Championship fixture. Ben Donaldson has since made several starts, Declan Meredith debuted after a strong season with the Brumbies, and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips remains uncapped but is part of the 34-man squad.

Lonergan was relaxed about adapting to different halves partners, insisting his own game plan remains consistent regardless of who lines up at fly-half.

“Each 10 has their own stamp that they can put on the game and I think the 10s we have in here are quite unique in their own way,” he said. “In terms of my game, I don’t think it’s really changed how I approach what I need to do and not do throughout the game. I’ve really enjoyed playing alongside all the boys so far.”