Couch potato Kaino back on track

Jerome Kaino has made a few changes this season. One of the major ones has been to put his DVD player away. The 22-year-old loosie was once a guy who would sit in front of the TV on a day off but, after being exposed to the likes of Richie McCaw on last year's All Black tour to the Northern Hemisphere, Kaino has put his couch-dwelling days behind him.

"It was a great learning curve for me and watching those seasoned All Blacks, you see how they operate and apply themselves on and off the field," he said. "Most of the time when I had a day off I would lie on the couch and watch a DVD but they are always out running and trying to improve their skills and that's what I'm trying to do now."

Kaino's skills caught the eye last year when he burst onto the scene with the Auckland NPC team, then announced himself on the world stage with a devastating try for the All Blacks against the Barbarians at Twickenham. This year has not panned out as well as Kaino had hoped and his first Super 12 season was blighted by a two-game suspension for a high tackle on Queensland's Josh Valentine and a locking crisis at the Blues that forced him to play a tighter game.

Despite the Blues' unsuccessful campaign and his own indifferent form, Kaino joined the Junior All Blacks last week and played in the opening two games before he was released, along with halfback Steve Devine and midfielder Ben Atiga, to hook up with an Auckland side preparing to take on the Lions on Tuesday.

"I would have liked to have stayed [with the Junior All Blacks] but the All Black selectors had spoken to me about returning early so I was prepared for it," Kaino explained. "I didn't mind too much."

It wasn't the only thing the selectors spoke to the American Samoa-born flanker about. "The All Black coaches have been really good and told me where I stand," he explained. "They told me to try to enjoy myself and get my confidence back and focus on my strengths rather than weaknesses. It feels good to get back on track and they were telling me to set my sights high and aim for the Tri Nations."

Clearly Kaino is a player the four wise men believe has a big future in the game with his explosive running, lineout abilities and ball-handling skills but these aspects have been largely missing in 2005. It's a common scenario for young players who make an impression in their first season at the top level and then regress in their second.

"I found myself trying too hard," Kaino admitted. "The higher you get, the harder you have to work. Once you've made a name for yourself you have to live up to people's expectations and the added pressures that go with that. Sometimes you forget about backing your natural instincts."

Kaino is likely to back himself when he takes on the Lions at Eden Park on Tuesday. Auckland will be the last game on tour for many of the Lions before they head home after Saturday's third test and they will want to make a similarly emphatic statement as they did against Manawatu last week.

Auckland are a different proposition, however, and one with eight All Blacks in the side, even without regular skipper Xavier Rush, who is laid low with glandular fever. "We feel we can topple them," Kaino said with a nervous laugh. "The guys are firing to get into a side that is starting to gel and will want to go home on a winning note."

An Auckland win will provide plenty of highlight footage but it's unlikely Kaino will be watching it at home. It might be a few years before the DVD player is pulled out again.

Auckland squad forwards: John Afoa, Chris Heard, Nick White, Saimone Taumoepeau, Semisi Telefoni, John Fonokalafi, Brad Mika, Bryce Williams, Kurtis Haiu, Justin Collins (c), Jerome Kaino, Angus MacDonald, Daniel Braid.

Backs: Steve Devine, Tanela Moa, Tasesa Lavea, Sam Tuitupou, Isaia Toe'ava, Ben Atiga, Gavin Williams, Isa Nacewa, Tony Koonwaiyou, Joe Rokocoko, Brent Ward.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY