Instinct and practice key to backs' success

New Zealand’s Cory Jane, Richard Kahui and Israel Dagg have fast become one of the best backline trios in world rugby, and according to Jane it is thanks mostly to instinct and practice.

The All Blacks backs have been impressive right through Rugby World Cup 2011 with wing Jane’s superb play under the high ball against Australia in the semi-final a key part of New Zealand’s victory to progress through to Sunday's Final.

Jane says the key to having a good game in the air is to put trust in the men around him while going with what feels right.

"There's a lot of talk back there, where the holes are, where the space is, who to attack but it's pretty much instinct,” Jane said. “You don't want to get caught down in too much structure.

"You plan for things but you want the counter attack to just be instinct. You don't want to have to be set in plans on where they kick and what you want to do.”

The All Blacks wing won generous praise for his aerial dominance against Australia last week but Jane says the way he plays is a product of his teammates.

Training important

"Our job is to catch the ball and our mates are our eyes,” he said. “They tell us if we have to get up or who's coming and stuff like that, where the spaces are. We're just there to catch it and unleash the next fella.”

While Jane believes instinct and flair are key to a potent backline, training is also just important.

"We train it a lot, you can’t just kick it and expect them to do it themselves,” he said. “We've got to work together pretty hard back there and we do that at training.

“When it comes to high balls, the kick chase, everything. I mean that's our job, if we didn't do it, we probably wouldn’t be in the team, so we work hard.

"You've just got to understand what the other guy does when they catch the ball or what they look to do and just work on."