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He’s mixed it with some of the most bruising centres the game has ever seen in a Test career spanning eight years and 82 Welsh caps.

So who is Jamie Roberts’ most feared opponent in that time? Midfield battering rams Ma’a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams and Mathieu Bastareaud or the silken skills of Brian O’Driscoll, Matt Giteau and Conrad Smith would be six star turns immediately springing to mind.

But Roberts’ arch nemesis is not even a centre but a No.10 in prodigious points scoring All Blacks legend Dan Carter.

Luckily for Wales, they don’t have to worry about the Kiwi maestro on the international stage these days with Carter hanging up his Test boots after helping the All Blacks seal back-to-back Rugby World Cups last autumn, though during his 112 matches over 12 years running the New Zealand ship has left an indelible mark on Roberts.

In a question and answers session with the children of St Patrick’s College, Silverstream in the Hutt Valley, Roberts and Welsh lock Luke Charteris gave a candid insight into life as a Test rugby player at a school that has proved a breeding ground for All Blacks and, more recently, Scotland back-rower Blair Cowan and England cap Thomas Waldrom.

And when asked who was the most difficult player to come up against, Roberts was unequivocal, in his answer to the students.

Who is the most difficult player to mark?

“I know he wasn’t a centre but Dan Carter,” he said.

“You always try to second-guess what an opponent was going to do but, with Dan, you’d think he was going to kick and he’d run. Or you’d expect him to run and he’d kick.

“He always keeps you guessing and was thinking three phases ahead.

“Rugby’s like a game of chess to him and he’s always thinking what move to make next.”

It was fascinating to be stood at the back of the class in the PE department as Roberts and Charteris gave an insight into the life of a professional rugby and their thoughts on education.

Lock Charteris and centre Roberts are both accomplished talkers and were at ease as they answered a range of questions from the boys at a school where former Wales, Lions, Newport and London Welsh centre or wing Robert Ackerman is a sports teacher.

Both have degrees and Roberts has qualified as a doctor – and they were quick to emphasis the importance of school.

Roberts said he knew players who gave up their studies to live the dream of becoming professionals and ended up not knowing what to do with their lives because they lacked qualifications after either failing to make it or having careers brought to an early end through injury.

“You have only got a finite number of years and, after you finish, you could have another 30 or 35 years in another career,” he explained.

“I know players who don’t address what they are going to do after rugby until their career ends and the switch is flicked.”

And Charteris chipped in: “Education is so important. I’m glad I stuck out my degree because you have to prepare for the future. You never know what’s going to happen next in rugby.

“School-work has to be the priority because the chances are you are not all going to become professional sportsmen.”

Roberts said: “There’s nothing more satisfying than working hard to achieve something, whether it’s exam results or playing rugby.

“The feeling of achieving after you have put in so much effort, you can’t compare it really.”

They spoke about how rugby has changed since they began playing with players more aware of welfare issues, particularly about concussion.

“At the World Cup there was an independent doctor with an I-pad who looked at every collision and had the power to order players off for a head injury assessment if he felt there was a need,” said Roberts.

It was introduced following prompting from the Wales squad’s medical manager Prav Mathema in the aftermath of the fall-out that occurred when George North was concussed against England last year.

Charteris said he had been encouraged to play in matches when he wasn’t fully fit earlier in his career, suffering an injury in one which was to keep him out for 10 months because, he feels, he was off the pace and shouldn’t have been on the pitch.

They out-lined the unseen behind the scenes work that goes on to ensure players have the best preparation, whether it’s conditioning work, treatment to lessen the chance of injury or tactical analysis.

Asked for what made rugby special, Charteris said: “I watch other sports; they get paid a lot more than us and they don’t get smashed around but rugby is one of the sports that has got camaraderie and something special.

“If you aren’t part of the team other people are not going to have your back. I have got so many friends for life through rugby.”

And regards the toughest opponent to play against, the towering lock stayed a little closer to home than All Black Carter.

“Matthew Morgan, who is in our squad,” said the Bath-bound second row.

“I hate being up against him in training because he’s so nippy on his feet he can run around me for fun.

“He makes me look a right fool.”