Rocket's rediscovered

Joe Rokocoko dives in to score his try during the All Blacks 30-13 win over the Wallabies. Picture / Fotopress

It could strain his family bonds but Joe Rokocoko's blazing return to form worked a treat for the All Black family in Sydney last night.

Back in the All Black side after a run of ordinary form - and after his cousin Sitiveni Sivivatu picked up the mantle of Flying Fijian before suffering an injury - Rokocoko showed exactly what he brings to the All Blacks by playing a key role in what began as a stuttering All Black performance but which finished stupendously.

Rokocoko made several of those searing runs which marry pace and his ability to twist and spin out of tackles. The All Blacks' finishing let them down on several occasions but 'Rocket Man's' blistering pace saw him set up the try to halfback Piri Weepu. That score began the All Blacks' long climb back from a 13-0 deficit that had the same ring of death about it as the identical lead built up by the Springboks last week.

Rokocoko might have rocketed the All Blacks back into the picture earlier after another scalding run which stretched the Wallabies to breaking point.

From the ruck near the line, the All Blacks sent the ball wide for what looked like a try but Carl Hayman's hands acted more like feet and the pass was spilled and the chance lost.

However, it didn't take long before Rokocoko struck again. He beautifully hipped his way through an attempted tackle by Wallaby fullback Drew Mitchell - one of the heroes of the home team in a most assured debut. Rokocoko left Mitchell prone and then rocketed off. A flying tackle by Australia hooker Jeremy Paul halted the All Black winger but he twisted to his feet and the All Black forwards moved the ruck on.

As the Wallabies scrambled to defend, Weepu picked up the presented ball, coolly assessed his options and drove low and hard - for all the world like Sid Going of yester-year - to score a vital try.

Richie McCaw's try - scored from a tap penalty in the second half with the Wallabies again under severe pressure - took the match out to 23-13 but the Australians, ever the fighters, took up the challenge. After a prolonged siege of the All Blacks, superb defence finally forced a turnover and captain Tana Umaga set Rokocoko free.

He covered 20 metres in a flash, kicked ahead when challenged and regathered. He then turned on the turbo to seal the match with a dive that would have rivalled the Discovery space shuttle for re-entry to the earth's atmosphere.

Joe Rokocoko: 25 test matches. Now 28 tries.

- Herald on Sunday