Jamie Roberts expects his 35-year-old legs to be asked new questions in a cameo for the NSW Waratahs this season.
Nine years after the British and Irish Lions star scored against the Wallabies in their final Sydney Test, the Welsh centre will call the city home.
His shock mid-season departure from the Dragons comes with his Sydney-born wife expecting their second child.
Roberts will have his hands full there, while he also wants to learn how to surf.
But after dominating Europe’s heavier tracks with Harlequins, Bath and the Dragons, perhaps his greatest test will be adapting to the faster style of rugby and contributing to a team that lost every game last season.
“It’s a different game; faster track, hand speed of the players, the skill set,” Roberts, who got a brief taste of Super Rugby in a shortened 2020 stint with Cape Town’s Stormers, said.
“Northern hemisphere it’s on heavier pitches, quite attritional, lot of kick chase, the ball can be greasy.
“What I’m fully expecting here is like South Africa, width on the ball, faster, quicker way of playing.
“I feel like I’m winning collisions and keeping up with the pace of the game, but I’m going to have to adapt quickly.”
Roberts played the last of his 94 Tests in 2017 and now has the chance to nurture a midfield that boasts freshly-capped Wallabies centres Izaia Perese and Lalakai Foketi.
And he’s aware of the impact he can make after new coach Darren Coleman sounded him out following injuries to fellow midfielders Joey Walton and Mosese Tuipulotu.
“You want lads striving to get into the team, so be that guy, be a good team man,” he said.
“There’s a lot of young players here and … I probably learned more from the senior players by my side than coaches in my youth.
“When you get older you realise that job’s yours.”
Match fit and injury-free, Roberts could get the ultimate Australian welcome if he plays against the Reds in a trial game in the far-flung Queensland town of Roma next weekend.
Round one pits the Waratahs against newcomers Fijian Drua at CommBank Stadium on February 18.
“The coach would want to work with the amount of potential that’s there and to play with a group like that is going to be awesome,” he said.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Sorry - I think I looked a year early. The recent signings are not listed on the Tahs' own website. 2.00 and114kgs according to google.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He’ll likely be way off the pace. But he hasn’t been recruited with the expectation he will be an elite super rugby centre. Having him and Hoops on the field at times with Gordon not injured all year might alone add enough leadership to make them a lot more competitive compared to last year. And he was also never an athletic freak, so as long as he stays injury free he can offer some value as a big midfield option. Question will just be if the game has moved past that too much or not.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
MK, if I get down to Tassie in the next year or so, I will warn you and if you have time, I'll call in for a drink with you. We could exchange a couple of war stories regarding our 'amazing and overhyped' exploits on the rugby field during our well-spent yuuuffff!
jeznez
Roar Guru
Caird has headed to the Highlanders. 26 year old Geoff Cridge added
Tim J
Roar Rookie
With your posts still, you have not faded too much.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Don't get my hopes up...even if it's my February optimism
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Dare we dream? Top 8?
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Doc, you need the optometrist if you thought he contributed little to the Force. He is a genuine, if older FB and the pity was that he went to the Force as Hodge and Banks could have learnt a lot from him.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
MK, I am a fading facade of what I was but that wasn't much to start with.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Oz, we could be for a couple of very good games this year. Not expecting too much early on in the season but hoping they hit their straps in midseason and push on. Coleman is a charismatic coach and has had a huge impact on the clubs he has coached. He is no mug and a 'Westy' with a league background so there will be no bullshit.
jameswm
Roar Guru
oz we have got a few older heads in this year. Roberts, Ruan Smith, Hooper, and even Holloway and Hanigan who are 29 & 26. Add them to more experienced returners like Gordon and Faulkner, plus NZ lock Sam Caird (aged around 23). A lot of additions, the biggest one of course being Hoops. And Ramm, Bell, Donaldson, Harrison, Horton, Douglas etc being a year older.
jameswm
Roar Guru
And surely a mature and experienced person and player can only be a positive influence on the guys around him. Shame for Joey Walton. Great for Foketi, Perese, Donaldson, Harrison, Ramm etc to have him around them.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Wait um... Kearney seemed like he was on a paid holiday for most of his stint. Certainly didn't seem either that committed or that interested in playing Rugby.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Roberts isn’t on money. He’s on a minimum injury cover wage. Not a pimple on the face of the salary cap. Playing for the Tahs is not the primary motivation for being in Sydney. But there is no reason it can’t still be a win/win arrangement.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Wales have had grit for the entire period of his playing career. They never give up and can outlast opposition in tight games. If he brings that know-how and determination we will learn something. Could have done with it last year but I don't want to go down that rabbit hole again. Hopefully, those lessons have been learnt
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Maybe a miracle in motion ozinsa, one can only hope.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
I think he'll go well. He doesn't need this, nothing to prove, already has a few bob in the bank and is a qualified doctor. Training hard will come naturally and I recon he's here to have fun. I'm really looking forward to seeing him play. Definitely provide some tackle practise!
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Lordy Lordy, there’s crazy things going on. Tahs board and coach in synch? Who’d have thought it
mrl
Roar Rookie
I understand he’s a qualified medical practitioner. Can he do his own concussion tests? Seriously though..can he?
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Hopefully both ozinsa, maybe just maybe Coleman has brought foresight to the board. Time will tell but this could be a good new relationship?