All Blacks: Rokocoko takes time to regroup

Joe Rokocoko in action for Auckland against Counties-Manukau yesterday. He admitted it was difficult to concentrate. Photo / Greg Bowker

Joe Rokocoko knew his fate the moment he saw a missed call from All Blacks Graham Henry on his phone on Saturday night.

All Blacks of Rokocoko's stature - 45 tries in 60 tests over the last seven years - don't get calls telling them they are in the team. They are, however, worthy of a courtesy call when the axe is about to drop. Or, as Rokocoko put it, the bullet is about to find its mark.

"I'm always dodging bullets but this bullet came and hit me straight on the head," Rokocoko said.

"You have that gut feeling when you know you are not safe.

"Nowadays when you get a call it is not to say you've made the team. It is to say you've missed out. So going home and seeing that missed call from Ted, I knew what the outcome was."

The winger's breezy demeanour off the field and seemingly laid-back approach on it shouldn't be mistaken for signs that he doesn't care.

His dumping has hit Rokocoko hard. He was barely able to sleep on Saturday night, figuring he might have got two hours.

The result was that he played yesterday's match for Auckland against Counties-Manukau in a daze.

He wants, he said, to give himself time to absorb the ramifications of his new situation.

Most importantly, he didn't want to do anything rash, such as chucking in the towel. He had no immediate plans to take up an overseas offer and would instead re-commit to the Blues and Auckland in a bid to win his place back next season.

"It is pretty hard to take in. When you are involved with the team for seven years, the longer you've been in the team, it hurts more."

He plans to meet Henry for a face-to-face meeting late this week, with part of that discussion likely to centre on his failure to adapt to a modern game that places more emphasis on wingers' kicking and kick-receiving ability.

"To be honest [the game] has changed on me," he said.

"But all professional athletes have to adjust. I can't make an excuse and say the game has changed and be standing there saying 'can you change it back'. That is going to be part of this few weeks off coming up, trying to adapt to the new game, trying to do something about it rather than whingeing about it."

The last time he was dropped he made his way back through the national sevens team, something he ruled out attempting to repeat.

"I guess I'll just go away from everything, just refresh the mind really, relax the mind ... and get myself ready. I'm just going to wear my body out again and frustrate myself more if I go to other teams. I've got to just give myself a bit of space," he said.

"This time off is going to do me good. That goal of wearing the black jersey is always there. That is making me stay in New Zealand at the moment and I am still striving for it."