With three Six Nations titles, two Grand Slams and a starring position in a British and Irish Lions tour, Wales legend Jamie Roberts constructed a formidable portfolio of recollections earlier than he hung up his boots in 2022.
It simply so occurred that certainly one of his fondest and certainly one of his most harrowing rugby experiences got here towards Ireland.
Although it’s now 16 years on, his recollections of the 2009 Six Nations stay vivid. Then solely 22 and a yr into his worldwide profession, Roberts got here off the bench in Wales’ 17-15 loss to Ireland that sealed a primary Irish Grand Slam in 61 years.
“I think the majority of my memories against Ireland have been bad,” Roberts advised the Ireland Rugby Social.
“The Slam game in Cardiff, ROG [Ronan O’Gara] hit a drop-goal in minute 77. It was a big moment in my career seeing another team parading the trophy around your stadium.
“It got here early in my profession. I used to be solely 22 and I do not forget that and it damage a lot that it really motivated me fairly a bit. I used to be like, ‘I by no means, ever need to really feel that once more’ of an opposing workforce parading the trophy round your stadium.”
Roberts, who retired in 2022, added: “It was a gut-wrenching feeling. Four years later we had that well-known win towards England to win the trophy and England have been going for the Slam.
“There was half the squad that were involved in ’09 and we were like ‘we can’t feel that feeling again’.”
After the ache of 2009, Roberts loved higher days towards Ireland, just like the 2011 World Cup quarter-final win in Wellington and a dramatic 23-21 victory in Dublin the next yr that despatched Warren Gatland’s aspect on their strategy to the Grand Slam.
