What the Kiwis need to do
Two weeks after the remarkable win over the Kangaroos, the Kiwis resume their international campaign with the start of the three-test series against England in Hull.
New Zealand coach Michael Maguire has stuck with the same 17 as he looks to get one back over Wayne Bennett’s England outfit, who comfortably beat the Kiwis in his first match in charge in June.
Guarding against letdown
As impressive as the Australian result was, it was only one game. And it’s imperative the Kiwis, who are still trying to win back the wider public’s support, maintain the momentum in England.
The extended break may help them reset. Up against a new team in a completely different part of the world, it’s almost like they are starting again.
Kiwis teams traditionally improve the longer they are together and all the talk coming out of camp has emphasised the need to build on their opening display.
Can JWH maintain the rage?
An NRL staffer has apologised and will attend cultural training and education for using racist language during Australia’s test win over Tonga in Auckland last weekend.
The NRL confirmed to Radio New Zealand it had wrapped up an investigation into the incident that included facilitating a meeting between Tongan DJ Alf ‘Al Goodie’ Aholelei and the casual staff member.
Aholelei used Facebook to express his outrage, claiming he
What will England bring?
Speaking of Wayne Bennett’s side, they may be missing Sam Burgess, Gareth Widdop and Ryan Hall but this is still an experienced squad who have played plenty of football together.
They possess a formidable group of forwards, even without Burgess.
Of the team that beat the Kiwis 36-18 in June, 11 have returned. and England do welcome back classy hooker Josh Hodgson. heard the official say the words ‘‘dance monkey, dance’’ during the halftime break as a dance camera focused on exuberant Tonga supporters in the Mt Smart Stadium crowd.
The NRL quickly launched an investigation and said Aholelei had accepted an apology and the worker’s explanation for his comments.
Part of the settlement included the worker agreeing to attend cultural training and education.
Locking up the edges
Apart from their shaky final 10 minutes, New Zealand’s edge defence was the biggest area of improvement from the Kangaroos test. They should be better for the run and will need to be as you can bet Bennett will instruct his playmakers to send traffic their way.
Kiwi control
The win over Kangaroos was one of the most controlled, disciplined performances we have seen from the Kiwis for some time.
They starved the opposition of possession and constantly built pressure with a high completion rate. Their second-phase play had the defence on the backfoot, but rarely did they force the offload. And, for the most part, halves Shaun Johnson and Kodi Nikorima kicked well and capitalised on their attacking opportunities.
It’s a sign of the style Maguire wants to employ and now it’s up to the players to replicate that in hostile territory.