Big Joe backs his countrymen

Fiji’s Rugby World Cup chances have been given a ringing endorsement from one of the Islanders’ most famous sons, All Black winger Joe Rokocoko.

Rokocoko has been taking a couple of days off to visit his village of Yavusania, and in a chat to the Fiji Times, said that he thought Fiji could sneak a spot in the quarter-finals in France, citing the 14-14 draw with Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup as proof.

“I came to know of the news straight after the game against the Springboks in South Africa,” Rokocoko said.

“Siti (Sitiveni Sivivatu) and I were talking about it. We gave the other guys in the ABs (All Blacks) a hard time. Watch out: Fiji is coming to the quarters of the World Cup! Obviously the Tongan and Samoa players also had a lot to say.”

Rokocoko is one of four or even five players jostling for the wing position in the All Black team for the France showpiece. It is unclear to most who the top two genuinely are, but for Rokocoko, cousin Sitiveni Sivivatu is the king of the position.

“It’s hard enough to be in the All Blacks team as you are trying to make into one of the greatest rugby team in the world,” Rokocoko said.

“Sivivatu has been awesome.

“I rate him number one at the moment in the all round game defence and attack. He is a good player getting involved in the game. I’m picking up the little bits off him. And he is asking me if I need some help. So for things like that, you work off each other. In the end it just makes you a better player.

“Making it into the squad is obviously great. It certainly is difficult. I’m sure all the guys are training hard for the RWC.

“In the end everyone is waiting to get the cup home. So that’s the main thing. It’s not the matter of who makes it into the world cup side just as long as the guys go over to France and bring the cup home.”