Explosive Joe ready to blow

Joe Rokocoko weighs 4kg more than he used to. He says he is no slower but has increased his explosiveness after modelling himself on Fijian star Rupeni Caucaunibuca.

Short of confidence and form after a disappointing Super 12 campaign in 2005, Rokocoko made the call to become more like Caucaunibuca - the arch-master at beating players one-on-one. The All Black wing wanted to become more explosive, more adept at using his speed and agility.

His work in the gym became more power-based and the net result has seen him gain about 4kg. He has also learned to deliberate less on the potential options open to him when in possession.

Now when he gets the ball, he commits to one idea and tries to execute that as well as he can. He said he was previously guilty of thinking too much and reducing his impact by getting caught in two minds.

Clearing his mind has become easier now that he weighs in at 104kg. The extra weight has given him the confidence that he has the explosive power to beat opponents on the outside, or to step off either foot, or even run right through them.

"I certainly feel comfortable running at this weight and as sharp as I ever have," said Rokocoko.

"I really wanted to become more explosive, like Rupeni Caucaunibuca and Sitiveni Sivivatu. When those guys step, they really blast off either foot and are hard to tackle.

"I want to be a bit more like Rupeni in the way he reads the game and the way he times his acceleration on to the ball. I have been working with the coaches at clearing my head.

"I was maybe guilty of thinking about all the things I could do when it would be better for me to pick one thing and do it as well as I can. Just focus on one thing and then totally commit to it."

That's exactly what Rokocoko did in Brisbane in the Tri Nations. He stepped on the gas to get outside Rocky Elsom and then cut back sharply to beat Chris Latham and claim the only try of the match.

'What impressed me about that try," said All Black strength and conditioning coach Graham Lowe, "is that he put the whole package together. He didn't just use his pace. He stepped strongly off his left foot and got the timing just right.

"Joe needs to have confidence in his speed. He has always been very fast but we have been working on his speed agility and strength. We want him to be able to change pace when he is confronted with a defensive line, to be able to use good footwork so he can get into the space."

That try in Brisbane also ended an 11-month drought for the man who finished last season with the most prolific strike rate in world rugby of 30 tries in 30 tests.

Prior to Brisbane, his last points had come in August 2005, when he scored two memorable tries in Sydney to help the All Blacks to their first away Tri Nations win under Graham Henry.

It was a long time between drinks for Rokocoko and led to speculation that he had maybe lost a yard of pace - that the extra weight had arrived with a drag factor.

Lowe, however, is the man in the know and is confident Rokocoko remains as sharp now as he did when he first came into the All Blacks.

"We test and monitor the speed throughout the season and I have seen no signs that he is getting slower. At different times of the season their speed might fluctuate if they have had a niggle or a heavy workload, but there is nothing obvious to say he is getting slower.

"Joe has been the quickest in the past and there is a cluster of guys all reasonably close. But I guess you have to clarify speed.

"If you take a guy like Rupeni, he was pretty quick when you timed him between lights. But on the field he was quicker than anyone and ultimately that is what matters."

The need to be quick enough to get the job done - it's a point Rokocoko didn't throw out with the rest of the mental clutter.