All Blacks: Jane living proof that size isn't everything

All Black Cory Jane describes himself as 'a little guy who has heaps of determination'. Photo / Getty Images

In some of his pre-test routines, Cory Jane reckons he must look pretty unusual to his coaches.

But he commends the Wise Men for letting him do his own thing to get ready for clashes such as tonight's duel with the Wallabies.

Jane felt his game suffered when he used to get a bit wound up before matches. "So I just switch off now. I look at the coaches and they must think I am being a bit of an idiot but that is just me," the wing said.

Whatever he does is working for Jane. He has worked his way through 18 All Blacks tests and into the selectors' must-pick list with a mix of solid and unconventional rugby.

History told the 27-year-old he was a fullback but the All Blacks like him on the wing, where his skills balance those of Mils Muliaina.

Jane loves the stage, he finds freedom rather than pressure in his rugby after he and his wife have dealt with the health issues of their young son. Cassius, 2, has tuberous sclerosis, a debilitating genetic condition which puts everything in perspective.

"When I get to rugby I go into a zone and have a bit of fun," Jane said.

"When I was young I stressed out, but in this team, you are picked because you can play. Obviously you are going to make some mistakes but it is about options and decisions which is a big part of rugby."

The All Blacks had embraced this campaign with attacking strategies compared to the defensive kicking game last year. Jane could do the basics of defusing bombs and kick for touch but he wanted more out of rugby. He wanted run-and-fun football and that's what he is getting and providing in the black No 14 jersey.

It's a great effort from a would-be fullback who was a "little bugger" when he attended Heretaunga College to now be the premier All Blacks wing. "I wanted to be an All Black from the time I started, so I guess that was why I was no good at school," he said.

Jane missed age-group sides but says that drove him harder to succeed until he finally made a provincial academy under-19 squad.

His ascension is a beacon for others that skills, courage and sporting brains are more important than size.

"You've just got to work your game as well as you can," he said.

"The chances of me bowling over others is not that high, so I have got to sort out other ways. I am a little guy who has heaps of determination anyway.

"I look at a guy like Aaron Cruden who is strong but he is a midget. It depends on how you work it and all about confidence."

Jane pinpoints his anticipation as an element in his game which gives him an advantage.

"I'm always hanging around looking to pick out mismatches. I think my vision is pretty good and I'm always looking where I can attack, where there are weaknesses."

When that happened he could often break the line or catch defenders off balance as he did last week in fending off Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom.

"When you step or fend or whatever you do, if you've got the right target it makes it look better than it probably is," Jane said.

"Catching someone off balance with a fend can look great but he has been off his guard so you have done the work before it.

"The trick is setting yourself up for those opportunities."

On the wing, Janes finds his defensive duties harder than those he used at fullback. Tackling or contesting the breakdown were fine but on the wing he was working on fulfilling other duties the coaches wanted.

He and his most-capped wing mate Joe Rokocoko talked a great deal about running lines and how they "saw' matches.

Jane was relaxed about tonight. He did not feel stressed.

"Someone told me you are picked for a reason so go out and do it.

"I've got a lot of things going on outside rugby like my son, so when it comes to rugby that is the time I relax and go out and have a bit of fun. The hard work has been done before that."

Jane admits he also put a great deal of work into his hairstyling. He gets bored with repeat cuts and is now growing a beard.

"I've always been like that. I had dreads at one stage but I got a lot of crap for that."

He does not mind Drew Mitchell's buzz cut but baulks at copying because it would accentuate his "big ears".

He could not believe when the Wallabies left Mitchell out of the squad, originally, and thinks he and the injured Digby Ioane have been two of his toughest rivals.

"I wanna play against good fellas. It is all about work when we are on the field but off the park we are on Twitter and give it to each other.

"That's the thing about rugby, you can share some laughs after the game."