All Blacks unleash Rokocoko

Richie McCaw prepares for the Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney. Picture / Fotopress

Nine months of test inactivity for Joe Rokocoko ended yesterday when he was chosen for the opening Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney because of an injury to his cousin, Sitiveni Sivivatu.

It has been a pregnant pause for the man with an extraordinary strike rate of 27 tries in 24 tests. He last started a test for the All Blacks in France late last year.

Rokocoko played a bit role from the bench last week against the Springboks and at best was contemplating a similar task until several changes in circumstances.

With the plan to attack more from the back against the Wallabies, the selectors decided to move Mils Muliaina from his unproductive left wing work at Newlands to his regular fullback place instead of Leon MacDonald.

"Joe looked sharp in South Africa. The track will be hard and the weather good so we will unleash them [the backline]," said assistant coach Wayne Smith.

Captain Tana Umaga has been picked after an optimistic report from the medical team. He will be given more time to check his damaged left ankle but has been bracketed with Conrad Smith at centre.

The pack is unchanged from the one which tangled with the Boks. There is no room in the 22 for Sione Lauaki or John Afoa, but coach Graham Henry said no one would be released for the opening round of the NPC.

Byron Kelleher was still suffering headaches after his concussion. He might be fit for the return test at Dunedin against the Springboks, but Piri Weepu would start with Kevin Senio on the bench.

The panel had wanted to reintroduce Sivivatu after shoulder and leg problems took him out of the 16-22 loss to the Springboks.

But the wing's leg was still giving him trouble yesterday and his place went to Rokocoko.

Since his test debut in early 2003, Rokocoko had been an automatic choice for the All Blacks except for two pool games in the World Cup when he was spelled.

But this season, his lack of impact in the Super 12, the corresponding influence of Rico Gear and Sivivatu and the use of the experienced Doug Howlett forced Rokocoko out of the test against Fiji and the Lions series.

He was recalled at the expense of Howlett for the Tri-Nations in what still looked like a concession to his historical form.

"My main aim was to make the Tri-Nations squad and then my other main aim was to get into the 22. Being on the bench last week was a big enough step for me," a relieved Rokocoko said yesterday.

"They had a group there which went very well in the Lions series so it was looking harder all the time."

Rokocoko has spent more time working on his strength, staying on his feet in the tackle, hitting clean-outs and raising his workrate off the ball.

The 22-year-old has played against the Wallabies three times at Sydney.

In his first game in 2003 he scored three tries in the All Black victory but, by his own admission, he had a shocker in the defeat last year.

"That was one of my worst games. I hardly touched the ball and did not get involved at all."

Henry said the Wallabies demanded a different game plan - they seemed to know best how to play the All Blacks. Often they arrived for those tests in the middle of an apparent trough and rose to the examination.

* Telstra Stadium, Sydney, 9.30pm Saturday

New Zealand

Mils Muliaina, Rico Gear, C Smith/T Umaga (c), Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Daniel Carter, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock

Reserves: Leon MacDonald, Luke McAlister, Kevin Senio, Marty Holah, James Ryan, Greg Somerville, Derren Witcombe.

Australia

Drew Mitchell, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock, Morgan Turinui, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, George Gregan (c), David Lyons, George Smith, John Roe, Nathan Sharpe, Daniel Vickerman, Al Baxter, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young

Reserves: Brendan Cannon, Matt Dunning, Mark Chisholm, Phil Waugh, Chris Whitaker, Clyde Rathbone, Elton Flatley. 23rd man: Rocky Elsom.