Cory Jane loving it after 'terrible' rugby passes

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE IN MELBOURNE

Cory Jane is feeling liberated after enduring a year with the All Blacks where they were forced to play "terrible" rugby".

Jane, with his catching and kicking skills, was indispensable under a game dominated by the boot last season.

Now he is simply irresistible to the All Blacks with the new rule interpretations allowing him to bring out his running game again.

For a player with speed, deception, spacial awareness and linking skills, he is the prototype player for the counter-attacking game the All Blacks have brought to the test arena.

It's as if the sevens game where he made his name has suddenly taken on bigger dimensions.

His conversion from fullback to wing is proof of the All Blacks looking to squeeze as much of their outsides backs talent into three positions. Right now, Jane's name would be the first jotted down on the selection sheet in that area.

Understandably the 27-year-old is loving it.

"Last year if you were good at catching the ball you were all right. I didn't mind catching the ball but it was a terrible game to play, you just didn't run.

"Look, you always want to be an All Black even if it's a terrible game. But it was frustrating and not only for the players but also the people watching ... it was terrible.

"This year it has changed and it has shown in our players. Guys like Joe Rokocoko - he is in outstanding form because it is suiting his game again.

"And me, I just like to run with the ball ... I grew up with the ball in hand stuff.

So it's just enjoying it, enjoying your job. Suddenly there doesn't seem so much pressure because it's what you like to do - have some fun.

"We are doing alright at it too and hopefully it can continue this weekend."

Jane has been delighted to see the stocks increase through the addition of someone like Israel Dagg, a player of the same ilk and another fullback who looks destined to get more time on the wing.

"Yeah I said to him when he scored that try against South Africa that he didn't want to play too well in that position on the wing otherwise he will be stuck there. We had a chuckle about that."

"But the coaches have given Israel the freedom to try things just like they did when I came into the team. And it suits him. Under this game you can't rely on one player to do things at the back now. It's got to come from everywhere and that's why everyone is helping each other out.

"And that's why the counterattack is working well for us - because of the input from everyone.

"We are high on work rate in this team and you're seeing that from guys in the forwards who are playing a bit wider again."

With that in mind, Jane believes tomorrow's test in Melbourne has the makings of a cracker. He feels it will be a bigger challenge in many ways to that presented by the Springboks because of the dangers the Wallabies bring to the match with their similar attitude to New Zealand.

These are the sorts of games he lives for now.

"We are trying to play the game the way it should be and you saw Aussie trying to do the same thing.

"So I think there are going to be a few tired boys out on the field with all the running.

But it has shown that you just can't kick the ball any more to teams that are trying to counterattack – that seems to be where all the points are coming from nowadays."

And more often than not Jane is in the mix of it.

With 17 tests under his belt since debuting on the end of year Grand Slam tour in 2008, Jane is hungry for more.

"I want to make the World Cup. That's my focus. Then if I fall out of favour or start playing terrible then I will look at my options.

"But my options right now are playing as well as I can for the Hurricanes and the All Blacks."

He's doing a fine job of that.

- © Fairfax NZ News