New Zealand coach David Kidwell is adamant his team can still match it with Australia despite slumping to a fifth straight defeat to their Trans-Tasman rivals on Friday night.
The Kangaroos showed why they are currently the world’s No.1-ranked nation after rampaging their way to a five-try lead in Canberra before eventually cantering to a 30-12 win.
The Kiwis had been expected to give the Kangaroos a real fight following the return of stars Kieran Foran, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Simon Mannering.
However the world No.2 nation struggled to maintain pressure in good ball position and compounded their attacking woes with some frail defence in the first half.
And while the Kiwis won the second half 12-6, Kidwell bemoaned his team’s poor last-tackle options and lack of fight in the ruck during the opening period.
“We spoke about our kick finishes at halftime, and to Shaun (Johnson) and Kieran’s credit, they fixed those up,” Kidwell said post-game.
“Rugby league’s a game of inches and those kicks, if they landed in the in-goal and we take those couple of opportunities, maybe the scoreline’s a bit different.
“But we’ve got to start better and I thought we needed to control the ruck, the speed of the play the ball. That’s something to work on and look at.”
The defeat leaves Kidwell with just the one win from six matches since taking over coaching the national side midway through last season, including a shock draw with Scotland in the Four Nations.
Overall, the Kiwis have won just two of their past ten matches, although Kidwell believes the results aren’t indicative of the difference between the two nations.
Asked if he felt far away from Australia, Kidwell said: “Not at all.
“Australia tonight were very good. They took their opportunities – we just couldn’t quite execute it. But we got ourselves in a position to create opportunities, we just didn’t execute there.”
Kidwell gave special mention to the efforts of Russell Packer and Simon Mannering, before declaring that form – not reputation – will be his main criteria for World Cup selection.
The Kiwis’ next game is against Samoa in their World Cup opener on October 28.
“For me, that’s what I’ve learnt – guys that are actually hungry to put your hand up, you want to be involved in the World Cup,” he said.
“We’ve got a great opportunity to possibly win another world cup and leave a legacy there.”
Jimmmy
Guest
Just don't get the KIWIS. On paper they are not that far away from the Aussies but on the field they look clueless. I really thought Foran would make a huge diffference to them and allow Johnson a lot more freedom to play his own game. But nothing changed , They ran with the intensity of wet lettuce and tackled like it was a training drill . I don't understand at all. The intensity in the Fiji , Tonga game was three notches up from this one.
Kaizer
Roar Rookie
Was on Cocaine as well? He might as well have been with that statement.
Stu
Guest
No one takes more satisfaction in NZ league losses than you Steven. Id be miserable too if my team was as crap as Souths are currently
The Barry
Roar Guru
I went to a fund raiser lunch for Ron Massey a few years ago. He wasn't in great health but still a character. The stories about him and big Jack were legendary.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Ive never seen a player slump in form like 'Roger Tuivasa-Sheck' since he's gone to the Warriors and is based in NZ! The guy is a dud and every game that he plays he gets worse. Same with all the Kiwis that have gone to the Warriors and have made their base in NZ. NZ have got allot of improving before they can be competitive with the Kangaroos!!!
kk
Roar Pro
Jack Gibson and Ron Massey had an SP business that probably ranked high on the ladder of that thriving industry. Armed with that inside information I doubt if they would have held anything for a 'ref bet' Accepting the bet would have been a matter of friendly customer service.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That story about Lawler is folklore MAX but I've always wondered what bookie would take a bet from a ref on the result he was officiating in...?
kk
Roar Pro
The appropriately named Kiwi coach is a super optimist. Despite bowing from $1.35 to $1.45 it was obvious after ten minutes play that those odds were generous to the extreme. I kid you not. The Kangaroos and All Blacks domination is a health hazard for each code. Would be oppositions give up the chase, games reduced to exhibitions. The frightening part is that their respective reserve grade sides could probably do a similar job. Remember St George's golden run. Great for St George but not the game. Two in every ten is a good healthy maximum. Though Noel Kelly on "Legends" re-ignited Rugby League lore when he revealed that Jack Gibson told him in the sheds prior to kick off that referee Darcy Lawler had backed St George. Moreover, after the game he was introduced to the bagman who put the bet on for Lawler. Kangaroos and All Black domination is so final that referees are a mere extra on the paddock. You can back it in that they do not bet. The best combination of a Kiwi and PI team may be the way to go.
The Barry
Roar Guru
He makes all the right noises but I'm far from convinced. On paper the kiwis should be much closer to Australia than they've been over the last 18 months. It's all well and good saying the players didn't execute, but execute what exactly? I dont think the game plan was very clear. The kiwis didn't seem to be playing to a pattern, to be honest I thought they were looking wide when they should have been playing straight and vice versa. They don't seem to be getting much out of their strike players at the right time. They don't look a well coached side.