News

Sivivatu not that quick

June 20 2008

Sitiveni Sivivatu's try-scoring feats continue to astound but he's still not the quickest All Blacks rugby winger out of the statistical blocks.

A try in each of New Zealand's first two Tests this year has carried Sivivatu to 23 from 23 Tests, maintaining a strike rate that has never been below 100 per cent since a four-try debut against his native Fiji in 2005.

However, a glance at where other prolific All Blacks try-scorers sat at the same stage of their career reveals Sivivatu lies second - behind his cousin.

Joe Rokocoko crossed 27 times in his first 23 Tests while former All Blacks full-back Christian Cullen managed 23.

Not far behind are John Kirwan with 20 and Tana Umaga with 19.

Left winger Sivivatu played down his stunning rate, pointing out that more tries are scored in the modern game, particularly by an All Blacks side adept at playing with width.

"It's good for me but I always say I'm lucky to be at the end of the line," he told NZPA, explaining he got more joy setting up tries for others, as he did for fly-half Dan Carter during last week's 37-20 defeat of England.

"It's give and take. If you're going to be individual, it doesn't work that way."

Sivivatu will play on the All Blacks' right wing for the first time in the second Test in Christchurch on Saturday, but said adapting was not a problem because he had played there previously for the Chiefs.

Sivivatu is ninth on the all-time All Blacks list, one behind scrum-half Justin Marshall but not even halfway to the leading mark of 49 established by Doug Howlett at last year's Rugby World Cup.

Rokocoko is within sight of Munster-based Howlett's record with his 43 tries, but is currently sidelined as he recovers from wrist surgery.

Leading All Blacks Test tryscorers through the early part of their rugby careers:

(After 23 Tests)

27 Tries: Joe Rokocoko

23 Tries: Sitiveni Sivivatu, Christian Cullen

20 Tries: John Kirwan

19 Tries: Tana Umaga

15 Tries: Doug Howlett, Jonah Lomu

14 Tries: Jeff Wilson, Stu Wilson, Terry Wright

Top 10 try-scorers (number of Tests in brackets):

49 Tries: Howlett (62)

46 Tries: Cullen (58)

44 Tries: Wilson (60)

43 Tries: Rokocoko (48)

37 Tries: Lomu (63)

36 Tries: Umaga (74)

35 Tries: Kirwan (63)

24 Tries: Justin Marshall (81)

23 Tries: Sivivatu (23)

22 Tries: Daniel Carter (46)