Joe Rokocoko finds form with Auckland in the Air NZ Cup
Auckland picked up their first win of the season against Northland at the Kerikeri Domain on the weekend, with a supposedly out of sorts Joe Rokocoko finding his feet as he scored two tries, and played a significant part in two others.
The two try performance saved him from the axe as All Blacks coach Graham Henry was far from happy with his form of late, having scored just one Test try in 10 outings.
"It was a big selection. Siti (Sivivatu) is obviously cemented in there but Joe's played one good test in South Africa and one poor test match," Henry says.
"If we were selecting it prior to Saturday he probably wouldn't have got in, but he played very well for Auckland, as good as I've seen him play for a long time.
"He scored a couple of tries and had a big hand in the other two, so he sort of saved his bacon, really."
Speculation was rife that Corey Jane would have been brought in as a safer option on the wing, with Rokocoko himself even admitting that he expected to be dropped.
"I have to admit I did have a shocker (against the Springboks)," he said.
Against Northland though, the 44 Test try veteran was particularly impressive as he took his opportunity with both hands, gaining both confidence and the work rate that had been missing of late.
"The change of scenery was good. I felt really relaxed," he said. "It came down to not thinking about things too much and just having a go."
Henry has since shown faith in him and Rokocoko has been retained in the All Blacks lineup to face the Wallabies for the Bledisloe Cup, earning the Fijian-born flyer his 58th Test cap.
Final score: 32-13 to Auckland
The two try performance saved him from the axe as All Blacks coach Graham Henry was far from happy with his form of late, having scored just one Test try in 10 outings.
"It was a big selection. Siti (Sivivatu) is obviously cemented in there but Joe's played one good test in South Africa and one poor test match," Henry says.
"If we were selecting it prior to Saturday he probably wouldn't have got in, but he played very well for Auckland, as good as I've seen him play for a long time.
"He scored a couple of tries and had a big hand in the other two, so he sort of saved his bacon, really."
Speculation was rife that Corey Jane would have been brought in as a safer option on the wing, with Rokocoko himself even admitting that he expected to be dropped.
"I have to admit I did have a shocker (against the Springboks)," he said.
Against Northland though, the 44 Test try veteran was particularly impressive as he took his opportunity with both hands, gaining both confidence and the work rate that had been missing of late.
"The change of scenery was good. I felt really relaxed," he said. "It came down to not thinking about things too much and just having a go."
Henry has since shown faith in him and Rokocoko has been retained in the All Blacks lineup to face the Wallabies for the Bledisloe Cup, earning the Fijian-born flyer his 58th Test cap.
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Joe Rokocoko tribute
Time: 04:52Joe Rokocoko tribute
Final score: 32-13 to Auckland
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24 Comments:
FIRST!!!!!!......and yet strangely i feel no excitement at all. What an anti-climax.
By Andy, at August 19, 2009 2:52 pm
Great to see him back playing well again. He's been a nobody lately, which has been stranger to see.
Hopefully he comes right against the Wallabies.
By FrankyH, at August 19, 2009 3:03 pm
form... temporary
class... well he's got that in spades
By Hackney Griffin, at August 19, 2009 3:07 pm
did anyone see the blatent bum grab and hold after number 11's try!!hahaha benders!
By Anonymous, at August 19, 2009 3:20 pm
Ha you're right. He left his hand there a split second too long to be just a congratulatory gesture.
By Kearney for tests, at August 19, 2009 4:11 pm
I hope Rokocoko does find his form. He can be electrifying to watch. However, I gotta agree with 'Hackney Griffin' in that his form might be temporary because he's playing Northland. He SHOULD do what he did against Northland. Against the Wallabies and Boks? Not so sure.
Hopefully, he's back. We'll see this weekend.
By realrugby, at August 19, 2009 4:36 pm
Andy: too bad you had nothing to contribute. Better luck next time. (*shakes head muttering 'Kids...')
Nice to see him back. Hope to see him in international form.
By Stubbee, at August 19, 2009 4:48 pm
EVERYONE WATCH 2:22.. HAHAHA.. IS THAT THE NEW ALL BLACK HAND SHAKE? LMAO
TRUE AUSSIE FAN! GIVE IT TO EM WALLABIES!
By Anonymous, at August 19, 2009 4:59 pm
that wasn't just a freindly well done slap, that was a big gay bum grab haha
By ArranR, at August 19, 2009 7:11 pm
Who is the BACKSIDE SNATCHER chocolate starfish lover slapping bum grabber?!!!!! HAHAHAHA what nonsense is that? mmmmm someone loves their team mates a bit tooooooo much
By sharkgeorge, at August 19, 2009 9:33 pm
Ya actually can anyone shed some light on that SHIT... Anyone here who plays for their team and loves doing the bum slap care to explain it? What happened to a pat on the back? You see it more and more throughout rugby, guys getting slaps on the arse. Whats up with that?
By poopaul, at August 19, 2009 9:36 pm
So thats what a brian moore gay slap is?
By pingpongjon, at August 19, 2009 9:39 pm
I've got no idea what you guys are talking about..
oh wait, this?
ze bum grabber
:P
By Greiffel, at August 19, 2009 9:54 pm
hahahahahah well done greifel!
Guys i just watched the tribute vid linked under this vid. wow its such a reminder of the class joe has. And i love the history in the fact that henry has dropped him before and then brought him back for the aussie test where he had a great game! its all over again this weekend and i hope he comes through. Go roks!
By poopaul, at August 19, 2009 9:58 pm
I dont know but on the field everyone just turns gay... if i do something good for the team its bum grabs galore!!!!!
By oLd Faggy Hag sTucK in a Saggy BaG, at August 19, 2009 9:59 pm
lmfao at this kids name^^^ :)
By Davrob, at August 19, 2009 10:01 pm
They should have gone to the TMO for that second try, I think he was in touch...
By Anonymous, at August 20, 2009 12:24 am
Wow, that wasn't a slap, he went in for a full on gay grab.
What a pillow biter.
By Lennox, at August 20, 2009 4:14 am
At 2:22.. that's just sheer gayness
By Joost, at August 20, 2009 4:25 am
George Gregan used to do it all the time with Joe Roff.
By Anonymous, at August 20, 2009 9:10 am
lol how gay is that!
By Anonymous, at August 20, 2009 2:42 pm
Great to see Roks back playing well again. Great hands by him too for those other trys
By Dave, at August 20, 2009 3:02 pm
@anonymous some posts above:
like one of the commentators said, there's no TMO in the Air New Zealand Cup...
Hope Joe racks up a big one in Sydney.
By Ben, at August 20, 2009 5:01 pm
no prizes for guessing who dropped there soap in the shower that night lol
By creggs08, at August 21, 2009 9:44 pm
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