Tough-tackling Kaino seeks to repay faith

Hard-hitting flanker Jerome Kaino wants to be more adaptable when he returns to the All Blacks jersey tomorrow and slots into another untried loose forward rugby combination.

Another raw set of New Zealand loosies again shapes as the vulnerable part of their makeup, having been blitzed at the breakdown by France in the first test loss at Dunedin.

Adam Thomson and Liam Messam are missing after wayward outings, replaced by Tanerau Latimer and Kaino respectively for the second test in Wellington, the latter admitting he is lucky to get the call up after overcoming a knee injury.

A disappointing Super 14 campaign left Kaino, 25, worrying he would miss squad selection altogether -- although his cause improved considerably when Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo were ruled out.

Kaino attributed his retention to the strides made on All Blacks duty last year.

He is the most experienced member of a trio who tally just 20 tests between them, with openside Latimer making his first start after debuting late off the bench last week.

The last time any two of them started a game together was six years ago when Read and Latimer were in the same northern region secondary schools team.

There is a sense of deja vu for Kaino, who found himself in an unexpected leadership role at the Blues after well-performed loose forwards Daniel Braid and Nick Williams left the franchise.

It was something Kaino admitted he didn't handle well and contributed towards his flat season.

"I didn't mentally prepare myself for not having that support crew," Kaino told NZPA.

"I never thought what an impact it would have losing Daniel and Nick. Having Daniel there, I didn't have to worry about the first ruck. I could run second phase and do my own job."

A swag of different players lined up alongside Kaino as injuries created a revolving door scenario.

"Every time we ran to the first ruck we would lose the ball there or get caught short," he said.

"I don't think I really adapted to not having those experienced guys around me, I don't think I was ready for that leadership role."

Kaino was happy that regular blindside flanker Read, and not he, had been shifted to No 8, believing the extra scrum duties had distracted him in the past.

Also, he didn't envisage needing to take the other two loosies under his wing tomorrow.

"Kieran's a good talker and Tanerau's a really smart kid. It won't be like I'll be running out there trying to lead both of them," he said.

"We can't put too much pressure on ourselves we just have to go out there and play rugby."

While his ball carrying lacked the sting of recent seasons with the Blues, Kaino's tackling was as jolting as ever.

His sort of physicality was badly missing in the All Blacks' first performance of 2009.

"I love to get into the rough stuff, not as much as (lock) Brad Thorn loves to, but I love defending and running with the ball," Kaino said.

"Hopefully I can do my part and lead the boys."

France won't release the pressure tomorrow, Kaino predicted, leaving it to the hosts to counter the Tricolores' tricks at the coalface.

"They set the bar defensively and slowed our ruck down.

"I don't think you can point the finger at our loose forwards but all over the track. Our whole team were behind the eight-ball in the physicality side of things.

"To create the tries and create the flashy stuff, we need to really get down to the nitty-gritty and focus."