AUCKLAND — Will Genia has likened Cam Roigard to Springbok legend Fourie du Preez after the All Blacks scrum-half inspired New Zealand to a 2-0 Bledisloe Cup whitewash over Australia. New Zealand clinched the 2026 series with a 50-19 victory in Auckland and a 43-21 win in Sydney, extending Australia's wait for the trophy to beyond 2002.
The 110-cap Wallaby, the seventh most-capped Wallaby of all time, delivered his assessment on the I Love Rugby podcast with fellow former scrum-half George Gregan and ex-Springbok captain John Smit. Genia said styles had defined the recent results, arguing Australia's blend of physicality and skill was better suited to beating world champions South Africa in Perth under new head coach Les Kiss, but left them exposed against New Zealand's tempo. "Styles make fights and when New Zealand play South Africa, it's very much the case of physicality versus skill," Genia said. "When New Zealand take us to deep waters and play at tempo and play at pace, we find it really hard to stick with them." He added that New Zealand's accuracy and physicality around the breakdown allowed them to play with speed on the ball, flattening between both pods and playing at the line in a way Australia, who often sit deep and rely on structure, struggled to match.
"Roigard has been phenomenal," Genia enthused, placing the All Blacks No 9 in the evolving role of the modern scrum-half as primary playmaker. He said the position had changed to demand kicking for exit strategy, game control and decision-making on both sides of the ruck, comparing Roigard's influence to that of Du Preez and Gregan. "I watched a lot of Du Preez because he could control the game, all aspects of it essentially from half-back, and make great decisions similar to yourself," he told Gregan. "If you can get a nine that can run and understand when to slow the game down, speed it up, take one step out, take two steps out, go forward, play a bit of an arc, play the outside, run, play short, it just makes such a difference." Genia noted New Zealand have transitioned seamlessly from Aaron Smith, who he described as an all-time great, with Roigard fitting perfectly into how the game is now played.
Genia also praised Damian McKenzie for stepping in amid concerns over Ruben Love and Richie Mo'unga, highlighting his ability to square up the defence, fix defenders and create time for those outside him. "The great playmakers across generations have always been a running threat first and that's what then creates time and space for the guys outside them," he said. On Australia's options, Genia singled out Ryan Lonergan's point of difference at scrum-half as the Wallabies search for answers after successive heavy defeats.
The All Blacks have, Genia said, gone back to their DNA by being "brilliant at the basics" and playing at pace, a theme also echoed by Dave Rennie. The assessment follows Kirwan's praise for the All Blacks' growth after their Bledisloe Cup double, with New Zealand now building momentum while Australia under Kiss must reconcile the contrast between their success against South Africa's physicality and their struggles against New Zealand's skill and speed.