If there is one who knows France – New Zealand by heart, it is Joe Rokocoko. With his 68 caps in the black jersey between 2003 and 2010, the former emblematic winger of the All Blacks faced the Blues ten times. And if his eight victories are engraved in his record, his two defeats remain engraved in his memory.
Guest on the show “Le Basta Show” alongside Mathieu Bastareaud, the legendary New Zealander spoke on his memories of matches against the Blues, on their development, and on some tricolor nuggets that he particularly admires.
Eden Park 1994: the slap of French flair
Rokocoko's first contact with the French XV dates back to 1994, when he watched, from his living room, the victory of the Blues at Eden Park (23-20). He is only 13, but the impression remains: “It's the first time I saw the French team. I look at it and I say to myself: 'but which team is that?'” he confides to Bastareaud. “It was the first time I saw French flair. I'm 40 now, and they're still the last team to win at Eden Park.”
Cardiff 2007: the quarter that still haunts people's minds
Impossible to talk about his confrontations with the Blues without mentioning Cardiff 2007. This famous World Cup quarter-final remains one of the darkest pages in the history of the All Blacks. And Rokocoko doesn’t mince his words: “For me, there was forward.” He still mimes the gestures he made to the referee at the time: “When you see the video, I'm right behind and at the moment of the pass, I'm making signs like that.”
This famous exchange between Elissalde and Michalak, synonymous with elimination, still haunts some Kiwis. But today, Michalak and Rokocoko find themselves under the same colors, at Racing 92, where they co-train attack and skills respectively.
Transformed Blues
If Rokocoko experienced Blues who were often unpredictable – capable of the best and the worst – he recognizes that the current team has reached a milestone. “When I was playing, it was like a wave: ups and downs. But for five years, they have been regular.” And that only makes Saturday's clash even more promising.
According to him, French rugby has added a string to its bow: “Before, France was power, physicality and French flair. Today, they also have impressive speed coming out of the ruck.” Rokocoko anticipates a match with a lot of “ball in play”, in a frantic pace, where each error will be paid for in cash.
Mauvaka, Ramos: hybrid players
Among the Blues, Rokocoko has his favorites. And first of all, Peato Mauvaka. “I have a soft spot for him. He does everything like a three-quarter and everything like a forward. But for him, what is most important is the conquest: the scrum, the touch, he does it. But he does more!” A hybrid player model, according to him, which embodies the evolution of modern rugby.
It also places Thomas Ramos in this category of players capable of doing everything. “Ramos is a great player. He plays back, 10 or 12. He makes the right choices, even under pressure. It's like Dan Carter who started at 12 before moving to 10.”
Finally, it’s impossible not to mention Gaël Fickou, his protégé at Racing. “Every meeting we have here, he always asks questions out of the box. During the week he can be quiet, like Finn Russell, but on match day he's a leader.”
A high voltage shock
This weekend's duel at the Stade de France promises to be explosive. Two teams full of confidence, stars in all positions and total rugby on both sides. One thing is certain, Rokocoko will be in the front row.
