Object Rotation

How do you set the object rotation via scripts?
When I set the rotation variable nothing happens...

What Im trying to do is: I saved all data from the player object to a file.
Then I want to load it all back to recreate the player. All variables load up perfectly, including player location, backpack, items, equiped items, etc... but the rotation... the player always load up looking to the same standard direction, no matter what his rotation variable is set to...
Am I doing something wrong? must I use some command to rotate an object?

Any help would be appreciated as always.