Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw has defended his decision to replace Cam Roigard in the first minute of extra-time in the defeat to the Chiefs.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs<\/a> ended the \u2018Canes five-game winning streak last weekend when Jono Gibbes\u2019 men overturned a 12-3 half-time deficit, to draw the encounter 17-all after 80 minutes and send the match into Super<\/a> Point extra-time.<\/p>\n 40 seconds into overtime, Laidlaw stunningly decided to throw replacement scrum-half Ere Enari into the mix and called Roigard\u2019s number with the All Blacks<\/a> star clearly miffed as he made his way to the sidelines.<\/p>\n The Chiefs went on to secure the victory with back-rower Wallace Sititi scoring a clutch try after pouncing on a loose ball after Warner Dearns charged down Damian McKenzie\u2019s drop goal attempt with the Hurricanes<\/a> falling to a 22-17 defeat.<\/p>\n All Black was \u2018filthy\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a moment this is, taking off probably the game\u2019s best player,\u201d former fly-half Stephen Donald said on Sky Sports NZ\u2019s commentary when Roigard<\/a> was replaced.<\/p>\n All Blacks great Jeff Wilson was also on commentary at the game and speaking on the Breakdown show, he claimed that Roigard was \u2018filthy\u2019 with the decision.<\/p>\n The ex-winger added that Laidlaw made a mistake by taking the star scrum-half off the pitch during extra-time.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is right in front of me,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cI was commentating on the sideline, and I can tell you, he\u2019s filthy. When you\u2019ve played 80 minutes, and you\u2019ve been influential in terms of doing your job, and he clearly looked fine to me, and just 30 seconds into extra time [he gets replaced].\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI think that was a mistake, that was an error. You\u2019ve committed him to the 80 minutes. He can go the next 10 if he needs to. I thought he was good. There weren\u2019t many opportunities for him, but once again, I come back to the fact that I think both of these two teams prepared really well.\u201d<\/p>\n Cam Roigard was \u2018filthy\u2019 after Hurricanes \u2018mistake\u2019 as Chiefs star earns Sam Cane comparison from All Blacks legend<\/a><\/p>\n Replacing Cam Roigard was the right call<\/p>\n Speaking to the media on Tuesday, \u2018Canes boss Laidlaw stood by his decision to replace Roigard at such a crucial stage of the match, citing the need to get fresh legs on the pitch.<\/p>\n \u201cFresh legs,\u201d Laidlaw explained. \u201cWe just thought if there was a ball movement in the game, Ere is an outstanding defender, probably the best defensive 9 in the club, and we felt his fresh legs would help.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n The 48-year-old added that he isn\u2019t losing sleep over the substitution call and that following the review, the coaching staff were content that they made the correct decision despite the defeat.<\/p>\n Dave Rennie completes All Blacks management group as \u2018secret ingredient\u2019 from Steve Hansen\u2019s \u2018golden era\u2019 returns<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe reviewed all the substitutions yesterday morning and all the coaches were still in agreement, we probably made the right decision,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s definitely \u2018Captain Hindsight\u2019 there, Cam might have ran 50 or 60 metres and scored a try, but he also might not have. I\u2019m not losing any sleep over that change.\u201d<\/p>\n