All Blacks: Rokocoko hopes to find form on hard track

All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko has been stressing about his performance. Photo / Getty Images

CENTURION - Joe Rokocoko hopes a hard track and a softening of his stress levels will result in a thank you to All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry this weekend.

Henry pulled out a surprise when he named the out-of-sorts Rokocoko to start his 56th test in Sunday morning's (NZT) Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Dropping to the bench is Cory Jane, who chased and fielded kicks sweetly in difficult conditions during last Saturday's 22-16 defeat of Australia in Auckland.

However, Henry's gut instinct told him that Fijian-born veteran Rokocoko is on the verge of finding his best form.

"Joe's form this year hasn't been great. He's trained well over the last couple of weeks and I think he's ready to go," Henry said.

"He's got a lot of pride in his ability to play the game. He's played 50-odd test matches for New Zealand and I'm sure he wants to prove himself again."

Rokocoko hoped a departure from the cold night tests in New Zealand will bring a little sizzle back to his game. South Africa has been a happy hunting ground for the 26-year-old, who thrives on a hard surface.

"Wayne Smith (assistant coach) was reminding me how good the track is and that it is the ideal place to play running rugby for the wingers," Rokocoko said.

"The backs the Boks have had over the last few years have shown that as well. JP Pietersen and Habana has shown that when they play at home they are something else."

Asked yet to again this season to explain his mixed form, Rokocoko reckoned he had found a solution.

"I guess I have been too stressed out and worrying about my performance too much and expectations have got ahead of myself," he said.

"I have just taken away that load and concentrated on my daily training, not the weekend. I have been conscious of getting my confidence up and making sure I am fresh for the weekend."

Rokocoko has spent time this week with fellow- winger and second cousin Sitiveni Sivivatu, going over technical and tactical issues, while fullback Mils Muliaina has been a positive sounding board.

Both provided invaluable support but in different ways.

"Siti's been outstanding the last few years and I'm still learning off him.

"Most people don't rate him the way he should be rated, as one of the best wingers in the world. The way he reads play, the way he gets involved," he said.

"And going into the game Mils will just think positive things and what makes him happy in life in general.

"Next thing, he goes into the game with a clear head and plays his best."

Selection is a lifeline for Rokocoko, who missed early action in the Super 14 because of the birth of son Cypress.

He struggled for his best on return and appeared to have lost his mojo in last month's home tests against France and Italy.

The back three's combined test caps of 162 is an All Blacks test record, eclipsing the 156 shared by Muliaina, Rokocoko and Doug Howlett against Australia at Auckland two years ago.

Rokocoko also stands on the verge of a couple of test tryscoring world records.

He has scored 26 tries away from home, one short of two other prolific wingers - former teammate Doug Howlett and Australian great David Campese.

Rokocoko's nine tries against South Africa is one short of the world record for any player against any nation - currently the 10 scored by former New Zealand fullback Christian Cullen against the Springboks.

Rokocoko and Cullen have both scored five tries against the Boks in South Africa, sharing the world record.

However, Rokocoko said moving ahead of one of the game's great attackers wasn't a priority.

"Not really. Getting into the starting 15 was the main aim," he said.

"You won't get near that (record) if you don't even start."

Most test tries scored away from home:
27: Doug Howlett (NZ), David Campese (Australia)
26: JOE ROKOCOKO (NZ), Daisuke Ohata (Japan)
25: Jonah Lomu (NZ)
24: Gareth Thomas (Wales/Lions), Shane Williams (Wales)
23: Rory Underwood (England), Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Top tryscorers against leading nations:
v Safrica: 10 - Christian Cullen (NZ). 9 - JOE ROKOCOKO (NZ)
v England: 9 - Ian Smith (Scotland). 8 - Jonah Lomu (NZ)
v Argentina: 9 - David Campese (Australia). 8 - John Kirwan (NZ)
v Japan: 9 - Shane Williams (Wales). 8 - Gareth Thomas (Wales)
v Australia: 8 - Cullen, Doug Howlett (NZ), Ian Kirkpatrick (NZ)
v NZ: 8 - Campese. 7 - Matt Burke (Australia).
v Ireland: 8 - Christian Darrouy (France)
v Wales: 8 - Kirwan, Smith
v France: 8 - Rokocoko, Daniel Lambert (England), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
v Italy: 8 - Dennis Hickie (Ireland), Thomas
v Fiji: 8 - Rory Underwood (England). 7 - Brian Lima (Samoa)
v Scotland: 7 - Tana Umaga (NZ), Lomu
v Samoa: 6 - Chester Williams (South Africa), Jeff Wilson (NZ)
v Tonga: 6 - Isikeli Daveta (Fiji)

- NZPA