Kidwell praises clinical Kiwis after walkover
Shaun Johnson became New Zealand rugby league’s greatest test points scorer as the Kiwis hammered Scotland 74-6 to to set up a titanic tussle with Tonga at the Rugby League World Cup.
Johnson’s scorching second-half try broke Matthew Ridge’s record of 168 points as Kiwis coach David Kidwell celebrated a happy homecoming in Christchurch.
The halfback’s 22-point haul took him to 175 points with neither Johnson or Kidwell aware he had broken Ridge’s mark.
Wing Peta Hiku and standoff Te Maire Martin grabbed a hat-trick of tries – Hiku should have had a fourth – while Jason Nightingale had a double as the Kiwis crossed the chalk 14 times at AMI Stadium on Saturday.
Kidwell was delighted with the Kiwis’ clinical effort, especially their their 85 per cent completion rate – some 23 percentage points better than during the 38-8 win over Samoa in the first round.
It was a record-equalling highest test points tally for the Kiwis, matching their 74-0 win over Tonga in 1999. ‘‘I was really pleased with the effort and the win,’’ Kidwell said. ‘‘Especially the second half, where wanted to make better a couple of things from the first half, and I thought the boys really responded well.’’
Kidwell thought the Kiwi forwards – with debutant Addin Fonua-Blake and Russell Packer providing energy off the bench – struck the right balance ‘‘between offloading and the tough stuff up front’’ as they ‘‘gave the backs room to move’’.
As his players belted out their new team victory chant – written by Auckland composer Peter Urlich, formerly famous for his role in the ‘70s rock group, The Dudes – Kidwell dished out praise for Martin, in his first test start, and fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
‘‘Te did well, the cheeky young fella that he is. I thought he played his part ... his greatest strength is running the ball, and you saw that today with three tries. Roger’s role is to push up around those big boys to make sure if they do get the arms free, he’s there. His energy around the ball is what we need.’’
No-one expected the Scots to put up a fight – the TAB had suspended betting on the Kiwis’ mid-week – but, despite captain Adam Blair’s pre-match denial, there was pressure on his team to deliver the 50-4 drubbing Tonga had inflicted on Scotland in the first round.
The Christchurch crowd got the Scottish shellacking they craved in the city’s first test since 2006 when Kidwell was still a second rower.
Six first half tries had the Kiwis’ cruising by the interval.
The eight-try second half scoring clinic left the happy hordes among the 12,1230-strong crowd streaming for the exits to anticipate a tougher challenge ahead against Tonga next week.
The Kiwis’ offloading game was top drawer with 31 registered against a Scots side that slipped off 65 tackles.