Cameron Roigard enjoyed a try-scoring return from injury in the NPC as Counties Manukau put Auckland to the sword, cruising to a 49-28 victory in Pukekohe on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The scrum-half came off the bench in his first game since sustaining an injury against France and now boosts Scott Robertson\u2019s stocks ahead of the All Blacks\u2019 Bledisloe Cup defence against Australia<\/a> next week.<\/p>\n The brilliant scrum-half missed the opening four rounds of the Rugby Championship due to a fractured foot, with further setbacks to Cortez Ratima and Noah Notham creating an injury crisis in the position for the All Blacks.<\/a><\/p>\n However, those woes have been eased as Roigard<\/a> came off the bench for Counties Manukau in their comprehensive victory over Auckland on Saturday.<\/p>\n It did not take long for the number nine to make his mark as he capitalised on a strong carry from number eight Hoskins Sotutu by dummying from the base and sneaking over the try line, mere minutes after entering proceedings.<\/p>\n That try put Counties in a commanding 42-21 lead over Auckland, who had All Black Rieko Ioane<\/a> in their lineup for the first time in 1,824 days.<\/p>\n It was a return to forget for Ioane as his side were comprehensively put to the sword by the Steelers with Gibson Popoalii crossing for his side\u2019s sixth try before All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke grabbed a consolation score before the hour mark, falling to a 49-28 defeat.<\/p>\n Counties dominate<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a season to forget for Auckland, who have won just two of their opening eight games, and the return of Ioane and the presence of Clarke in their backline this week did not aid their cause.<\/p>\n The Steelers dominated proceedings from start to finish as Popoalii opened the scoring in the 10th minute with Etene Nanai-Seturo doubling their tally just four minutes later.<\/p>\n Tighthead prop Keran van Staden extended Counties\u2019 lead to 21-0 with the team\u2019s third try before the end of the first quarter, when Auckland finally responded through Che Clark. His try was simply a blip for the Steelers, who ran in two quick-fire tries through scrum-half Cohen Brady-Leathem and wing Josh Gray.<\/p>\n Cohen Norrie\u2019s late try made the half-time scoreline look slightly more respectable for Auckland, who trailed 35-14.<\/p>\n Mills Sanerivi\u2019s second-half score was quickly cancelled out by Roigard, with Popoalii doubling his tally in the 53rd minute before Clarke had the final say of the match.<\/p>\n All Blacks\u2019 boss Scott Robertson will have had a keen eye on proceedings at the Navigation Homes Stadium and will be pleased that Roigard got through his 30-odd minutes unscathed.<\/p>\n Jake White claims \u2018big questions to be answered\u2019 over Scott Robertson\u2019s future after \u2018one of the poorest win records\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n