Wales travel Down Under without Roberts but he believes the team can build on their tremendous year, which culminated in the RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam, by walloping the Wallabies.
“They’ve got an incredible chance down south in Australia this year,” said Roberts. “I don’t think there’s been a better opportunity for us to go and claim a southern hemisphere scalp.
“The team are obviously on a high from playing a good brand of rugby. All the boys are very comfortable with each other and we are all used to what we are doing.
“The shape of the team is good and the majority of players look to be fit. Hopefully we can send a more or less full strength side down there. It will be exciting.”
The Blues star will miss out thanks to a reoccurrence of a knee injury sustained back in March.
Ashley Beck and Twickenham Triple Crown hero Scott Williams are the front-runners to fill the midfield void when Rob Howley leads Wales ‘Down Under’
And like in the Six Nations Roberts admits he may have a battle on his hands to get back into the Welsh side.
“There’s a lot of competition for places in the centre,” added the Cardiff Blues star. “Obviously Jon and myself have played there for the last couple of years.
“But Scott has proved himself this season. The job he did down at Twickenham was fantastic and he’s been playing well domestically.
“Ashley Beck is another who has been playing well for the Ospreys and deserves his chance. These guys could come in and stake a claim. That’s the environment we are in.
“It’s up to me then to put in the performances for the Blues when I do return and earn my place back in the team.”
The 25-year-old underwent an operation at the beginning of April. He is already off crutches and can walk, but faces a long rehabilitation process and the added pain of watching Wales from the sidelines.
“I’m going really well. The graft is strong enough to allow me to walk and do my rehab. But I’m not going to be able to run for three months. The ligament doesn’t heal to the bone for at least 12 weeks.
I suppose it’s going to test my patience, but that’s the way it is. It’s massively frustrating. Any player will tell you it’s a strange place to be watching the team from afar. It’s obviously very hard to watch.”
