'Brave as hell' Wales youngster wows Australia legend with superb display

Australia legend David Campese was left hugely impressed with Wales' Tom Rogers despite the wing ending up on the losing side against the Wallabies.

Scarlets star Rogers was a shining light for Wales on a very dark day that saw them thumped 52-20 by the visitors in Cardiff, a loss which condemned them to their worst ever run of defeats. The 25-year-old stood out as he won the aerial battle and pulled off a superb try-saving tackle on Samu Kerevi in a fine performance to mark his fifth Welsh cap.

He was replaced by club teammate Eddie James after 55 minutes, a call which an "astounded" Campese initially described as "bats*** crazy" in his post-match analysis. However, Rogers has since confirmed that he was struggling with cramp when he was taken off.

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Former Wallabies star said: "Tom Rogers on the wing caught my eye. He’s a tall lad, but as brave as hell under the high ball, made some brilliant reads in defence and put a marker down. With the new escort laws as they are, players of that stature offer a target for the touchline aerial battle and the youngster really came into his own.

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Rogers wasn't the only player to impress Campese, however, as the Wallabies great claimed that the situation around emerging Welsh talent is "not as doomy and gloomy as some are making out" and that, instead, there are "a lot of plusses" to be found.

"[Archie] Griffin, who is third third-choice tighthead at Bath, went like a freight train in the scrum and gave world-class prop Angus Bell a really torrid time," he said. "He also banged the ball up in carry and made a few big tackles.

"James Botham, who, like his Grandad, seemed to relish playing the Aussies. I think Wales have a lot of plusses in terms of their talent coming through. Botham’s one-handed pick-up off the ground for his disallowed try was like watching Beefy in the slips and I can give him no higher praise than that.

"Elsewhere, Aaron Wainwright again showed his engine – I’ve always liked him as he’s a skilled footballer, and I thought Dewi Lake again led by huge personal example and Wales have a captain to build around there."