It also doesn't refute it
There is nothing to refute. Saying "Rayleigh was Rogers partner" indicates no such thing as them being equal in terms of power. It doesn't even belong as an argument.
Show me concrete evidence that Rayleigh was Rogers equal.
Who was Rayleigh portrayed alongside in Oden's flashback? Wasn't Roger. Who has Rayleigh been stated to have defeated or even fought against that was comparable to Roger? No one.
This argument stems from the fact that Rayleigh stalled Kizaru. That means nothing, because Roger was by far and above both Admirals and Yonko's.
Him and Whitebeard were the only two gold medalists of the World. That's a manga fact, and not something you guys can wiggle other characters into the equation of, just because.