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All Blacks' Lomu scores three tries

All Blacks Joe Rokococo, left, dives in to score as France's Aurelien Rougerie tackles during their test match at Jade Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand yesterday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Wing Joe Rokocoko, wearing the No. 11 jersey made famous by Jonah Lomu, scored three tries Saturday as the All Blacks beat France 31-23 in a rugby union test match at Christchurch.

Playing only his third test match and barely out of his teens, the Fijiian-born Rokocoko bid for stardom on a world stage when he grabbed a hat trick of tries within 12 minutes in the game's first half.

Rokocoko, 20, made his test debut against England two weeks ago as the left-wing replacement for Lomu, who rugby career has been stalled, possibly ended, by a kidney ailment.

He went tryless against England but scored two tries in New Zealand's 55-3 win over Wales last weekend and now has five tries from three All Blacks appearances.

Rokocoko's second try was one of the best the All Blacks have scored in recent years. He burst onto an inside pass from flyhalf Carlos Spencer after a lineout close to the All Blacks 22 and, with a superbly timed and angled run, broke open the defense on a 65-meter run to the line.

Scores * New Zealand: 31 (Joe Rokocoko 3 tries; Daniel Carter 2 conversions, 4 penalties) * France: 23 (Sylvain Marconnet, Yannick Jauzion tries; Frederic Michalak conversion, penalty, field goal; Damien Traille penalty; Gerald Merceron conversion)

The Auckland Blues wing scored his first try after 14 minutes after a brilliant midfield break by No. 8 Jerry Collins. The All Blacks quickly recycled possession and Spencer fed Rokocoko near the left-wing corner.

His second try, converted by Daniel Carter, gave the All Blacks a 14-3 lead after 20 minutes and he scored again six minutes later on the end of a long All Black backline. After robust forward play and continuous possession, the All Blacks used quick hands and extra men to give Rokocoko a narrow gap out wide.

The rest of the All Blacks' points came from Carter's boot. After converting two of Rokocoko's three tries, the Canterbury inside center kicked four penalties to provide the New Zealand's only scoring in the second half.

France, who had been labeled a team of unknowns, provided much sterner opposition than had been expected. Although they failed to contain Rokocoko, their defense was otherwise stout and combative.

Their forwards embarrassed the All Blacks in lineouts, winning a steady supply of ball from New Zealand throws, and gave the Kiwis stiff and sometimes shuddering opposition in scrums.

France also produced two fine tries from continuous possession in general play. They scored their first in the 36th minute through prop Sylvain Marconnet and their second, nine minutes from fulltime, when New Zealand had been reduced to 14 men by the sin-binning of their captain Reuben Thorne.

The match exacted a heavy injury toll. France lost promising flanker Imanol Harinordoquy with an apparent concussion while several players from both sides needed extended medical treatment.
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