Joe Rokocoko was "expecting the worst" when his deep train of thought was broken by the ring of his mobile phone late last Saturday afternoon.

He was alone on a three-hour drive from the North Island town of Kerikeri to his home in Auckland.

The All Blacks winger, with 57 Test caps and 44 tries since his debut in 2003, when he was voted International Rugby Players Association player of the year, had just starred for Auckland in their NPC clash against Northland - scoring two tries and playing a role in two others.

Rokocoko did not answer the phone, but let it ring out for the caller to leave message. No matter that it was All Blacks coach Graham Henry on the line with news of whether he had made the cut for tomorrow's Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Sydney.

Rokocoko smiled as he recalled his shock upon checking his voicemail when he returned home and heard the message that he had made the squad.

He will also be in the All Blacks starting line-up for tomorrow's match which kicks off at 10:05pm.