The Rugby World Cup centre igniting the Red Dragons

Jamie Roberts was a standout Welshman in the first two pool games. Photo / Christine Cornege

If you fancy having a conversation of any length with Jamie Roberts, to paraphrase Basil Fawlty, don't mention 2009.

That year Roberts lit up the Lions' tour of South Africa with a series of blockbusting performances, was named the Lions player of the series, and arrived home with his reputation substantially enhanced.

Not that the tour itself is a problem for the powerful Welshman. He played key parts in the first two tests, which South Africa won, before injuring a wrist and missing the final international, won by the Lions.

Since then, injuries haven't helped but there have been concerns that his form has been mixed.

Seasoned Welsh observers think criticism has been a shade harsh, that expecting the then 22-year-old to maintain those standards while still bedding himself into the test game, was asking too much.

Certainly second five-eighths Roberts has been a standout performer for Wales in their two Pool D games so far at the World Cup, against South Africa and Samoa, at one point flattening Samoa's experienced second five-eighths Seilala Mapusua, himself no pigeon in the confrontation department, with one vigorous charge.

Mixing rugged defence with hard, direct ball running has made Roberts a key figure in Wales' ambitions to make, at least, the quarter-finals.

Back to 2009 ...

"I'm quite fed up of people asking me, 'Do you think you're back up there to the 2009 form?' It's not about that," he said.

"By answering that question suggests the last two years have been terrible.

"It's about taking each game as it comes and just enjoying it. I'm away from home on the other side of the world, enjoying touring and playing with a smile on my face."

Roberts is also different from the average international.

He is into his fourth year of medical studies, which he does part time because of rugby commitments, and walks the wards at the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff. Orthopaedic surgery is in his future plans.

"I am a bit of a geek so I enjoy the medical side of things," he said.

"A lot of the boys would prefer to go home from training and switch off and relax, but for me, if you are not busy you are not living."

The plan is to finish his medical degree - to sit with a BSc in sport and exercise science - over the next two years, ending around the time the Lions will be touring Australia.

Newport-born Roberts, 24, is an imposing sight in full stride.

Curiously, his test debut against Scotland in 2008 was on the wing, which does seem a waste of his physical attributes.

After the 17-10 win over Samoa in Hamilton on Sunday, which got Wales on track for second place in the pool, coach Warren Gatland was purring over Roberts' form since landing in New Zealand.

"In the last two games we've seen the best of him. He runs well, he's a big man physically and [he] defended exceptionally well," former All Black hooker Gatland said.

There has been nothing particularly new in the way Roberts, now with 34 caps, has prepared for the cup.

"I worked hard in the [northern] summer. There's no secret formula; it's hard work and application. I set myself targets three or four months ago and then knuckled down.

"Hopefully I'm reaping the rewards of that now.

"I'm happy with the way I'm playing and happy to be part of a successful team."

That last bit might best be stowed away for another fortnight.

Wales must beat Namibia in New Plymouth next Monday, then Fiji, back in Hamilton on October 2, and hope Samoa don't produce a boilover against defending champions South Africa.

Conversely, had Wales lost to Samoa, they might as well have packed their bags. Such is life in the so-called group of death.