Super Rugby Pacific fans got a glimpse of a possible future international clash on Friday night, as All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard faced off against Wallabies No. 9 Tate McDermott in a thrilling encounter. The Hurricanes edged out the Queensland Reds 31-27 in a closely contested match.
Roigard, who ended the 2024 Autumn Nations Series as New Zealand’s top scrum-half, started against France’s Antoine Dupont and Italy, scoring twice across the two games—including a spectacular try at Stade de France. Though not officially confirmed, Roigard is widely regarded as the All Blacks’ preferred starter, with Cortez Ratima and Noah Hotham seen as strong bench options. His dynamic running and passing have stood out throughout the Super Rugby season.
In round 15, Roigard delivered another standout performance, scoring a try in the Hurricanes’ narrow win over the Reds. McDermott, who crossed for two tries, is making a strong case for a Wallabies starting role ahead of the British & Irish Lions tour. Though Jake Gordon was Australia’s go-to scrum-half in 2024 and Nic White remains a reliable veteran, McDermott’s recent form is turning heads and may put him in direct competition with Roigard later this year.
“Always enjoy testing myself against top players like Tate,” Roigard said in a post-match interview with Stan Sport. “Across the competition, the halfbacks are real threats with the way teams are attacking. Tate showed that tonight with two great tries—we gave him too much room despite preparing for it.”
“If we meet again later in the year, that’s another exciting challenge. It’s why we love playing—to take on the best,” he added.
While Roigard and McDermott were among the top performers, it was Hurricanes playmaker Ruben Love who ignited the action, scoring in the opening minute. McDermott hit back quickly, and Reds fly-half Tom Lynagh twice nudged his side into the lead with penalty kicks. However, the Hurricanes responded with a 14-point burst in just four minutes, featuring tries from Roigard and Billy Proctor, to lead 26-13 at halftime.
McDermott notched his second try early in the second half, as the Reds outplayed the Hurricanes for much of that period. Still, the visitors managed to hold firm, helped by a brace from winger Fehi Fineanganofo.
The victory pushed the Hurricanes above the Reds into fourth on the ladder, a potentially crucial position under the revised playoff format. This year, the highest-ranked losing team in the quarterfinals will still advance, provided the top three sides—Crusaders, Chiefs, and Brumbies—all win their home games. To lock in that advantage, the Hurricanes must defeat Moana Pasifika in Wellington next week.
“With the new structure, every point and game matters—it’s great how close the competition is,” Roigard said. “There was a lot riding on tonight’s result and we’re stoked with the win.”
“It was a back-and-forth clash. We started strong, then let them back in. The second half began poorly for us, but once we fixed our breakdowns and found rhythm in attack, we managed to build some good phases and score,” he concluded. “Plenty still to improve on, but we’re happy to get the job done.”
