Grand Slam is not a formality warns All Black Joe Rokocoko
All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko is expecting a tough test from Wales, as New Zealand prepare for their final match on their November tour of Britain and Ireland.
A win against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 27 November will mean that the All Blacks have won their third Grand Slam in six years against the home nations.
New Zealand will go into the match as massive favourites, but Fijian born Rokocoko insists that the game against Wales is not a formality.
Speaking to reporters, Rokocoko said, "It is never easy. It's always a challenge to claim a Grand Slam and we like these challenges. We are not diminishing it, it's just about us as a group setting out to achieve the goals we set, and we look to improve
year by year.”
The 27-year-old winger admitted that all of the home nations raise their game against the All Blacks because they are considered the number one side in the world. "It is hard being an All Blacks team when you come on these trips because every week teams
will come out and play their hearts out, and we expect lots of passion from the Welsh this weekend," said Rokocoko.
Rokocoko reminded the press that Wales almost defeated the All Blacks in 2004, when New Zealand struggled to a 26-25 win. "If you look at the last six or seven years (against Wales) we have only come through those games in the last 15-20 minutes. In 2004,
it was only in the last 10 minutes,” he said.
The All Black winger also admitted that Ireland performed against his side last week after struggling to beat Samoa 20-10.
"Ireland did not play very well against Samoa the week before they played us, but they turned up on the weekend and we are expecting Wales to do the same on Saturday," warned Rokocoko.
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