Rokocoko: 'It was a disgrace'
Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:26
New Zealand wing Joe Rokocoko is not a happy man despite scoring his 44th test try, his first test try since the 2007 World Cup.
The speedster, who has been under pressure to regain his top form, said he was very disappointed with the team's performance against the Italians.
"The whole game was disappointing not just for myself but the whole team," the 26-year-old told the Dominion Post after scoring his first try in a black jersey since his match-winner against Munster last November.
"We had a talk at halftime and it's disgraceful for players to perform like that and expect crowds to come and watch. It was a disgrace."
However, he was relived to finally cross the whitewash after a lengthy drought.
"I was pretty motivated to keep my legs pumping and get over that line," he said.
"It's improvement I'm happy enough compared to the last two weeks."
He also outlined the disturbing mindset the All Blacks wing has adopted on the end of his dysfunctional backline, which has kept him from the tryline for a long period.
The backs main goal hasn't and that is to create space for their outsides. Till they achieve that Rokocoko will continue to focus on chasing kicks and cleaning out rucks.
"I'm trying to improve in other areas, so the try wasn't the number one priority tonight,' he explained
"We [wings] need to take the initiative really just to get involved. If we are not scoring tries our first priority is to attack the ball that the insides do kick.
"Obviously if we don't get the ball we've got other roles to do well. There's a lot of kicking now. Territory is a big thing nowadays.
"Kicks are turning into an attack now and if we can isolate that one person and have a good cleanout ... that's a benefit, so the game has changed really."
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