2011 Four Nations preview: New Zealand

The 2010 Four Nations and world champions come into this series with several issues hanging over their heads, with the first and most pressing the absolute walloping that Australia dished out to them in the warm up fixture in Newcastle.

Australia looked better prepared, and New Zealand’s halves failed to fire in the one-off Test.

While these standalone Tests are a difficult measure of ability (especially in the Kiwi case), the alarm bells would have been ringing from the opening sets, with their forwards unable to halt the Kangaroos forwards process, and having extreme difficulty in making it out of their own half.

In a test of centre three-quarter depth, New Zealands makeshift outside backs of Lewis Brown and Gerard Beale were unable to deal with Australia’s second tier centres. With their preferred pairing of Steve Matai and Shaun Kenny-Dowall unable to participate through injury, the backup options were simply not in the same league as Chris Lawrence and Willie Tonga on the day. Matai will be available for the tour.

While the performance was far from impressive, the Kiwis have a history of under performing in one-off test matches, before playing magnificently during a tournament.

England are a bogey team for the Kiwis when they play them in England of late, and have failed to defeat them in England since the switch from Great Britain.

In reality, the last time New Zealand defeated them on the Isles was when the ‘All Golds’ defeated the ‘Northern Union’ 25-18 in an historical match at Halliwell Jones Stadium in 2007. The three game series played between the two teams after this game was won by Great Britain 3-0, and included a 44-0 hammering in Hull.

Before that, it was a 2005, a 42-26 win over the Great Britain side during the Tri-Nations tournament the the Kiwis defeated the England side in England.

Despite these issues, what the Kiwis have firmly on their side is their ability to perform well above expectations in tournaments, most notably the 2008 World Cup, in which the Kiwi’s, who had been beaten soundly by Australia early on, produced a magnificent all round display to take the final and the trophy.

Their halves pairing is terrific despite the flaccid display at Newcastle, and Isaac Luke coming off the bench and coming out of dummy half at tiring forwards will surely create huge metres at the back end of the halves.

Dangerman
For New Zealand’s foreseeable future, this title will always go to Benji Marshall. He is prone to having the odd shocker here and there, but despite this his ability to completely change a game is almost unparalleled.

Whether it’s creating a line break from deep into his own territory, or finishing off a half chance, Benji has the ability and the will to win a game in a heartbeat and his electric running and passing game is sure to light up this years tournament as it did the last. With Kieran Foran almost perfectly placed to counter every one of Marshall’s weaknesses, it is a formidable combination on its day.

New Zealand are strong all the way up the spine, great footwork in Kevin Locke and Fein/Luke forming a good defensive/offensive combination through the bench at dummy half. The depth in the halves is very impressive, with Shaun Johnson and Thomas Leuluai waiting on the sideline.

Chances
Expect them to end their recent hoodoo against the Poms, this side is full of talent, and considering the English struggled late in a game against the French over the weekend (the part of the game the Kiwis tend to love), you should see them in the final. I don’t believe they will defeat Australia in a third final in four years, but if they did, it would be no fluke.

Capable but unlikely. Finalists and runners up.

Squad

Gerard Beale (Brisbane)
Adam Blair (Melbourne)
Lewis Brown (NZ Warriors)
Nathan Fien (St George Illawarra)
Kieran Foran (Manly)
Alex Glenn (Brisbane)
Thomas Leuluai (Wigan)
Kevin Locke (NZ Warriors)
Shaun Johnson (NZ Warriors)
Issac Luke (South Sydney)
Sam McKendry (Penrith)
Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors)
Sika Manu (Melbourne)
Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers, capt)
Steve Matai (Manly)
Ben Matulino (NZ Warriors)
Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta)
Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra)
Russell Packer (NZ Warriors)
Kevin Proctor (Melbourne)
Jeremy Smith (Cronulla)
Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters)

Matches
Round 1
6:00 AM AEDT Saturday October 29 against Australia at Halliwell Jones Stadium, England – Channel Nine

Round 2
12:00 AM AEDT Sunday November 5 against Wales at Wembley, England – Fox Sports (Note: This is a double header)

Round 3
5:00AM AEDT Sunday November 13 against England at Kingston Communications Stadium, England – Fox Sports