Rokokoco might leave after the RWC ( or earlier)

[TRF Mr Fish]

Do you disagree that NZ is more tested by Tri Nations side than Northern sides?

 

[nickdnz]

I dont believe Rokocoko's form is as bad as people suggest and I still think he's very much in contention for WC selection. Even more so when you consider that he has for the most part performed better for the All Blacks in tests than he does for the blues in super rugby.

Gear is awesome on attack but there are things about gears game that worry me, mostly his ability to perform under pressure and some of his positional play on defence. Where Roks may not have the finishing ability of Gear he does have a very high workrate and he's very good under pressure on defence. he's also a great option for crash ball - he very well may be the best winger in NZ in that area. His size and height seem to make him very aquard to tackle and he alwats gets over the advantage line.

Gear was awesome on the EoY tour but that was against northern sides. He hasn't been tested in big games against the likes of SA and Aussie.

What do you mean Gear's ability to perform under pressure? He's consistantly been under pressure when playing for the Hurricanes, and yet he has always come off as a consistant try scoring machine, and I haven't noticed him caught out of place in defense yet. What is this based on? As for Rokocoko, I agree that he still has a lot to offer the All Blacks, and I'd have him in as well as Gear. Rokocoko's spot for me is more due to knowing what he is capable of, and how close he is to Howlett's record, however on form there is no winger that has performed as well over the last two or three years as Hosea Gear.

 

[woodward]

The guys the fastest we've got, the way he smoked Gear I thought it must have been a prop or something he was going past. He was looked like his old self on a few occasions for the Blues It's definitely a mental thing as to why hes not playing like he was, he needs a bit of arrogance back in his game.

 

[woodward]

*facepalm*

come on the EOYT is a gentle warm down for the All Blacks, last year they started a rookie mungo on debut and out of position

 

[Darwin]

What do you mean Gear's ability to perform under pressure? He's consistantly been under pressure when playing for the Hurricanes, and yet he has always come off as a consistant try scoring machine, and I haven't noticed him caught out of place in defense yet. What is this based on? As for Rokocoko, I agree that he still has a lot to offer the All Blacks, and I'd have him in as well as Gear. Rokocoko's spot for me is more due to knowing what he is capable of, and how close he is to Howlett's record, however on form there is no winger that has performed as well over the last two or three years as Hosea Gear.

I personally think there may still be question mark about Hosea Gear ability to perform under pressure. Not saying he can't handle the pressure, just that unless a player has played a few test matches in pressure situations the ability of a player to cope is unknown (Gear was tested a bit against England, Ireland and Wales, but not at all by Scotland). He is yet to be tested in the Tri-nations (through no fault of his own), and he was badly exposed in his debut against Australia in Hong Kong (though that was over two years ago, and I think he is a much better player now).

Though you suggest he has been a "consistent try scoring machine" the Hurricanes, I am yet to find any evidence of this. He currently has a try scoring record of 23 tries in 64 games - a try scoring ratio lower than the likes of Guildford, Masaga, Sivivatu, Rokocoko, and Ranger (i.e most of the other top NZ Super Rugby wings).... he's certainly not a great try scorer at Super Rugby level as you suggest. I personally have never been that impressed with him in Super Rugby, though he has suffered a lot of injuries in recent years which means he has struggled to get the game time to build up some form. He only played 7 Super Rugby matches in 2009, 7 in 2010, and has played 7 this year (a total of 21 matches). The likes of Guildford (33 matches), Masaga (30), Rokocoko (35), Ranger (34) have all played many more matches, and even the injury prone Sivivatu (24 matches) has played more.

I've been very impressed with the way Gear has substantially increased his work rate (particularity on defense) over the last year or so. However I do think he's been caught out of position on defense a couple of times this year, and as such has missed a couple of tackles (though probably no more than most of the other wing contenders). His attack has been good this year, but he's not looked any more dangerous than the likes of Poki, Guildford, Maitland, Masaga, Sivivatu, Ranger. However he hasn't exactly been on the end of a functioning backline....

Not saying I wouldn't pick Gear - far from it - I thought Gear had a very good end-of-year tour, and hence deserves to be the incumbent All Black left wing. However, he will have to prove himself again during the tri-nations if he wants to assure himself a spot in the RWC spot (which I believe he will).