Joe Rokocoko has been praised © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Smit expecting fiery reception

News: All Blacks eye lineout dominance

News: McCaw plays down talk of revenge

News: Nonu returns for experienced All Blacks

News: De Villiers bites back at 'big mouth' Henry

News: Hansen quiet on Highlanders role

Features: No margin for error

News: McCaw targets winning start

News: Howarth shown exit at Blues

News: Springboks set for World Cup fitness plan

News: Afoa still a prop at heart

News: Henry open to All Black Super 15 influence

News: All Blacks eye World Cup windfall

Players/Officials: Sir Graham Henry | Joe Rokocoko

Tournaments/Tours: Tri Nations

Teams: New Zealand

All Blacks boss Graham Henry has praised the recent contribution of Joe Rokocoko and defended his decision to include the Blues wing in his Tri-Nations squad ahead of Zac Guildford and Hosea Gear.

While Rokocoko endured a difficult 2009, his form during this season's Super 14 warranted a Test recall and Henry believes that he played his part in superb counter-attacking efforts in recent Tests against Ireland and Wales.

"Joe played very well in the first two Test matches, and I thought he added a lot to what we were doing," Henry said."He's an experienced campaigner and the back three played exceptionally well in those first two Tests.

"One of the qualities of a back-three player is you've got to be able to play with the other two. You just can't be a lone ranger, so if you can't work with the other two on counter-attack you've got problems. Our counter-attack was the best it's ever been those first two tests and Joe Roks was part of it."

Guildford also featured against the northern hemisphere tourists but was overlooked in Henry's squad, while Gear was in electrifying form in the colours of the New Zealand Maori, scoring a hat-trick as they defeated England. Henry, though, believes that the 26-year-old still has work to do to win further Test recognition.

"There is more to it than a guy getting the ball with a bit of space and running quick and putting it in the corner," he said. "There are a lot of plusses about that, but at Test-match level you don't get those opportunities very often."

The All Blacks kick-off their Tri-Nations in Auckland next Saturday, with the reigning champion Springboks the visitors to Eden Park.

"We obviously need to start well if we want to win the Tri-Nations, so it is all ahead of us over the next two Saturdays," he said."It is stimulating to be playing the best team in the world, I think the guys are really excited about that. It's good to start at home rather than playing at altitude in South Africa so that is helpful. We know it is a big task and we are looking forward to that task."