Jerome Kaino

Jerome Kaino is a versatile back row forward, known for his athleticism and work-rate. Having begun his career as a back, Kaino possesses great speed for a forward. Having made a good impression with Auckland and the Blues, Kaino was rewarded with a call-up to play for New Zealand against Ireland in 2006. Kaino failed to make much of an impact, and it was not until 2008 that he began to make performances that the media and Graham Henry believed were worthy of regular All Blacks selection. Kaino is by now well-established and is the first-choice blindside flanker.