Rocket Man to eclipse Jonah Lomu
Rocket Man Joe Rokocoko will on Saturday night eclipse national treasures John Kirwan and Jonah Lomu to become the All Blacks' most-capped winger, but he feels more like New Zealand's biggest outlaw.
Rokocoko has won a tight selection call over Israel Dagg to replace the injured Rene Ranger and line up against the Wallabies at Etihad Stadium for his 64th Test.
Dagg lit up Wellington's Westpac Stadium two weeks ago when he beat four Springbok defenders to score one of the tries of the year in NZ's 31-17 win over South Africa.
Recovering from a hamstring strain suffered in the opening 32-12 Tri-Nations victory over the Boks, the mercurial Rokocoko felt his place was under immense pressure.
But no more than usual, with plenty of talented tackle-busting flyers waiting in, and on, the wings all across NZ.
"Oh man, I'm just used to it," said Rokocoko, who will have a significant height advantage in marking James O'Connor.
"I'm the most wanted man in New Zealand at the moment.
"Everyone wants to take my head off.
"It's not only Dagg. You've got another dozen wingers in NZ whose initial goal who was to play right wing or left wing for the All Blacks."
NZ coach Graham Henry made just one other change to his side for the Bledisloe Cup encounter, with Jimmy Cowan taking over at halfback for Piri Weepu, who joined the squad late to be at the birth of his first child.
Despite enduring plenty of ups and downs in his seven-year international career, Rokocoko's record can't be sneezed at.
He has 45 tries for the All Blacks at a remarkable average of better than two in every three Tests.
The 27-year-old's effort to pass Lomu and Kirwan on the caps list took him aback.
"It's a huge honour for myself considering the players who have gone before me - it's just sinking in slowly," he said.
With his NZRU contract to expire this year, Rokocoko said it would be his ability to continue meeting the standards set by Lomu, Kirwan, Doug Howlett and Jeff Wilson that would determine whether he chased his 2011 World Cup goal.
"If I know I can't do the black jersey justice and play to my best it will be a better option for me to leave."
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.