Kiwis have much to work on to reach their potential
The Kiwis return to Elland Road tomorrow morning (NZT) for the first time since their historic victory in the 2005 Tri Nations final.
But England have already ensured they will have little to celebrate regardless of the result.
Indeed, as the Kiwis enter the dead-rubber third test in Leeds, many will be scratching their heads wondering just how it has come to this.
Michael Maguire’s side left New Zealand last month full of optimism and belief as they sought to become the first Kiwis team since 1998 to win a series in the UK.
Instead, they find themselves battling to avoid suffering the same fate as the 2007 squad thumped 3-0 by Great Britain on the disastrous All Golds tour.
Maguire’s men do not deserve to be compared to that Gary Kemble-coached side. The fact they held second-half leads in the first two tests shows there has not been a great deal between them and their English counterparts.
The last two weeks have reinforced just how difficult it is to win in English conditions – just look at some of the questionable calls that have gone against them.
But series.
As great as it was, last month’s stunning upset over Australia papered over New Zealand’s deficiencies and left an elevated sense of where they actually are as a team.
England have dominated the big moments while at the same time exposing the Kiwis’ lack of composure and concentration.
The signs were there against the Kangaroos. Like that match, the Kiwis conceded tries on the stroke of halftime in both tests against England before fading away in the final quarter.
But whereas they were able to withstand the late Aussie fightback, they lost their heads when it mattered against England that did not decide the with errors and ill-discipline.
This is not a flashy England side, although Jake Connor and newly-crowned Golden Boot winner Tommy Makinson have had a field day on the left-edge, running in five of their seven tries.
What they lack in flair is more than compensated for with grit and resilience. There was no sense of panic when the visitors edged ahead, they simply ground away and waited for the Kiwis to crack.
And when push came to shove, Wayne Bennett’s men found another gear.
Maguire has been loath to use inexperience as an excuse. They do have a decent mix of test veterans and even some of the new faces in the squad, such as Leeson Ah Mau and Isaac Liu, have a wealth of NRL experience behind them.
But there is no doubt a number of players are still getting to grips with the international arena.
The fresh faces Maguire has introduced has been one of the big positives this year. That and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s emergence as a leader, which has given the coach a welcome headache for when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returns from injury.
The coach has taken the opportunity to blood another rookie in the third test with Warriors backrower Isaiah Papali’i named on the bench, while making the surprise decision to drop 24-test veteran Martin Taupau.
Exciting wing Jamayne Isaako is set to make his second test appearance after replacing the injured Jordan Rapana and Joseph Tapine has come onto the bench for James Fisher-Harris.
England squad:
New Zealand: