WHILE RESULTS MAY not be going the way of his Bayonne team at the moment, former All Blacks sensation Joe Rokocoko hasn’t lost sight of what rugby means to him.

The Basque side lost 15-9 at home to Toulon last weekend, and are just one spot above the relegation places in the Top 14 after a difficult season. On Sunday, Rokocoko’s team face a crucial derby against bitter rivals Biarritz.

Despite all the pressure, and presumably some negativity at Bayonne, the 68-times capped New Zealander took to Instagram to share a photo of Jonny Wilkinson helping him off the turf in last weekend’s defeat to Toulon.

The words alongside the photo sum up his feelings on being a professional player.

We train hard every week, try to play to our full potential every weekend, have emotional pressure, expectations, throw our bodies around for our brothers.

“And at the end of the day it’s good to know we all have the same passion in this sport we love to play, and understand what it takes to get to where we are today. #respect #blessed”

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Rokocoko has started 21 games for Bayonne this season, all at outside centre, and scored six tries.

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