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Harmony the key at back

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said it was vital that harmony of spirit was seen among the back three players in his side when he outlined his reasons for preferring wing Joe Rokocoko to other claimants for a Test position in the Tri Nations.

Saturday, 03 July 2010

Sportal.co.nz

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said it was vital that harmony of spirit was seen among the back three players in his side when he outlined his reasons for preferring wing Joe Rokocoko to other claimants for a Test position in the Tri Nations.

Rokocoko and Cory Jane were the only wings named in the squad for the series, with Zac Guildford and Hosea Gear two high-flying prospects who missed out.

Rokocoko had played very well in the first Tests of the season, he was an experienced campaigner and the back three had played exceptionally well in the first two Test matches, he said.

"I think one of the qualities of a back-three player is that he has to be able to play with the other two, you just can't be a lone ranger, particularly at this level.

"It's a hell of a lot harder so that if you can't work with the other two in counter-attack you've got problems. I think our counter-attack was the best it has ever been in those first two Test matches," he said.

"And Joe Roks is part of that. He's also played very well in the Super 14. So there's just more to a guy getting a bit of space and running quick and putting it in the corner. There're a lot of pluses about that but at Test match level you don't get those opportunities very often."

Working with the other players in building the attack from the back was exceptionally important and Rokocoko did that very well in the first two Tests. He was also a leader in that group where he was talking well and helping develop that assault plan.

That said, he added that Gear and Guildford had every opportunity 'to come through and do the business'.

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