Jamie Roberts admitted that Wales’ Rugby World Cup 2011 semi-final defeat to France will “stick with me ‘till the day I die” as he appeared on the latest episode of Jersey Tales.

Roberts is the latest player to take viewers on a journey through his career on the World Rugby YouTube show, as he charted the course that took him from Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf in Cardiff to representing his country and the British and Irish Lions.

But, the biggest ‘what if’ moment of his storied career remains the last-four encounter with Les Bleus at Eden Park in Auckland.

Wales had beaten Ireland to reach the semi-finals, but lost captain Sam Warburton to a 19th-minute red card as France secured their place in the final by a solitary point, winning 8-9.

“We were in some fine form, you know, we'd had a great result against Ireland in the quarter-final,” Roberts said.

“But this will stick with me ‘till the day I die, you know, probably my biggest disappointment in the game, to come that close and lose a Rugby World Cup semi-final by a point.”

He added: “I've probably not known a quieter changing room. I've been in quite a few quiet changing rooms in my life and, you know, 2011 was was very difficult with a young group.

“We’d come a really, really long way in a short space of time in the year, 18 months leading up to the World Cup.”

However, Roberts and Wales were able to use that disappointment as a catalyst for a period of success that included a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2012, which was confirmed with a 16-9 defeat of France in Cardiff.

“These games stick with you for a long time and they motivate you, and I guess probably motivated me to win, you know, a few titles with Wales over the next few years,” Roberts said.

“You often talk about bus rides to the stadium as a player, and that day (against France) was just immense, you know, the bus ride in.

“You come around the corner of Westgate Street and you see the crowd, Wales going for a Grand Slam and the lads were really delivered that day and it was very special.”

Roberts’ jersey collection also includes prized shirts from his time with the Cardiff Blues, Racing 92, Harlequins and, of course, the British and Irish Lions.

The first of the Welshman’s two Lions tours came as a 22-year-old in South Africa, and it clearly remains a memorable experience. 

“My first tour was life changing and you make lifelong friends with these guys,” Roberts said.

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