INTERVIEW-Rugby-North improving slowly, says All Black Rokocoko

By Mark Meadows

MILANELLO, Italy, Dec 4 (Reuters) -New Zealand winger Joe Rokocoko has seen signs that northern hemisphere rugby is starting to improve although he said European players still did not show enough skills on the field.

The All Blacks comfortably beat Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and England on their November tour with their toughest test coming at Irish club side Munster, who only lost 18-16.

"In the southern hemisphere we like attacking rugby, throwing the ball around, showing your skills which you should show on the rugby field. The northern hemisphere has been used to the drive, kick, drive," he told Reuters on Thursday.

"When we come to the northern hemisphere they are not quite used to it. But Munster and star teams in the northern hemisphere are starting to attack more."

Rokocoko was also impressed with a proposal to create an Italian super club side, which would compete in the Celtic League with Welsh, Scottish and Irish teams.

The Italian rugby federation, which will discuss the idea later this month, hopes such a move would increase the competitiveness of Italy, who lost all three November tests.

"That's awesome, I'm sure supporters in Italy would get behind the team and players in Italy would work hard to get in that team and it will make them better in the end," he added.