Rokocoko feeling the pressure
New Zealand winger Joe Rokocoko says he is feeling the pressure ahead of the crucial Tri Nations match with Australia.
The winger has been called up to the side and Graham Henry says he hopes he will add something a little extra to the team, which will allow them to defeat their old enemy and take a strong position in the tournament.
However, the player says he is really feeling the pressure in the build up to the game and hopes that he can make it something positive that will help his team in an important moment in the match.
Rokocoko has a number of attributes that are going to make him a key player in the side and a lot of the play will go through him. There are various ways of dealing with pressure and he needs to keep these at the front of his mind.
The player
His game is all about pace and strength because he plays in a wide area of the pitch. He can use his pace to get forward and score and this makes him very attractive for the coach to bring in.
He's also good enough with his passing to get out of trouble in difficult situations. This is something that New Zealand may rely on in the game when they are up against it and Rokocoko can set the example by playing some very good passes out of defence and in attack.
He's also got some very good form behind him. He has played very well for his club side in New Zealand this season and this means he will be able to hit the ground running when he is thrown in to the game this weekend.
He said: "I'm just used to it. I'm the man most wanted at the moment in New Zealand, they'll take my head off. It's not only Dagg, there's another 1000 wingers in New Zealand. This is just the first tier of guys that are coming up in their careers. If I know I can't do the black jersey justice and play to my best, then it's a better option for me to leave and carry on."
Pressure
There are a number of different ways that the winger can deal with pressure if he doesn't want it to be a problem. The most obvious is to make it something positive and use it to lift his performance during a game.
He can try and shut it out completely but this can often mean he is not focusing on the game as much as he should be. He'd be thinking of ways to mute the sound of the crowd and make himself feel better instead of looking at what's going on and reading the player.
Coach Graham Henry added: "Obviously he's under pressure. There's other guys playing well in that position. We've gone for the guy who's been there and done it and done it well in the past."
Betting advice
New Zealand will be the favourites against Australia but don't count out the Aussies who will be buzzing after a good win against South Africa. The winning margin could be very slim and the best bet is to wait until the game has started so you can see the pattern of the play.
Rokocoko could easily score one, two or maybe more tries. He has the power and the pace to do very well in the attacking half and you should keep this in mind if you're thinking about betting on him. Back him to score but not to end up as the highest points scorer.
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