An introducer is provided for inserting a connecting rod into tissue of a spine that comprises an outer sleeve with an actuatable rod attachment portion at a distal end thereof to releasably pivotally attach to a connecting rod, and an elongate inner shaft movable translationally within the outer sleeve. The proximal end of the shaft is coupled to an actuation mechanism for selectively translating the inner shaft. The distal end of the shaft includes a rod engagement surface that is movable y the actuation mechanism to a first position to engage a cooperative engagement surface on the rod to hold the rod in a selected locked orientation, to a second position to space the rod engagement surface from the cooperative engagement surface of the rod to allow pivoting of the rod, and to a third position to release the rod from the outer sleeve.