After working on his consistency, Jerome Kaino has forged himself a place in the loose forwards. Photo / Brett Phibbs
When Kaino missed the All Blacks' Tri-Nations decider against Australia because his wife was expecting, it was felt as keenly as the absence of a safety net below a high-wire act.
The third piece of an established loose forward triumvirate with Kieran Read and Richie McCaw, Kaino's influence takes on
even greater importance with the injury-enforced absence of the No 8 through the early part of this tournament.
It took a while, some thought too long, for Kaino to establish himself as a key part of the All Blacks after making his debut against Ireland at Hamilton in 2006.
Capable of imposing physicality one week, the off-switch would be flicked the next as Kaino ran down the channel marked "anonymity".
It took a personally delivered message from Graham Henry during the 2010 Super 14 to snap Kaino out of his comfort zone. Kaino was told that an awesome performance followed by an ordinary one did not a great All Black make. It hit the right spot.
