The one that got away for Roberts

Peter Jackson

If Jamie Roberts could only be granted the wish of playing one match over again, he would name the time, the venue and the occasion without a second’s hesitation.

October 15, 2011, Eden Park, the World Cup semi-final against France.

If only he could change the result:

France 9, Wales 8.

Roberts, who confirmed his retirement last week after a career of truly global dimension, considered it more than the nearest of near-misses.

That the better team lost in spite of losing their captain, Sam Warburton, to an early red card and their immovable tighthead Adam Jones to injury before half-time, made it all the harder to bear. The way Roberts saw it, Wales had missed the chance of a lifetime.