Graham Lowe: Halves running on half empty

It will be a game of two halves tonight at Aussie Stadium - but not the 40 minutes of play each way.

This is about two tired halfbacks who are showing signs of fatigue.

I can never recall tiredness being suggested as a possible problem with a Kangaroo test team before, but it is certainly out there in the Australian media as an excuse now.

Super halfback Andrew Johns has in the last couple of games looked very tired, and considering his busy Origin and club campaigns, you can hardly blame him.

Stacey Jones is in the same boat for the Kiwis, and has not really had a proper break following last year's tour to Britain.

Both men are crucial to their respective teams and one of them will play the leading role in whichever side wins tonight.

Australia is only a short plane ride away, but in some ways light years away when you look at the attitudes of our countries and particularly when you consider sport.

The biggest hurdle the Kiwis face is not the players wearing the green and gold jerseys, but the attitude the Aussies bring to the game.

We have the players to beat them most times we play them, but we seem to let ourselves down thinking about them too much and, on many occasions, psyche ourselves out of it.

The Kiwi lineup is very experienced. They might not win, but they won't get thrashed.

I hope with all that experience comes the confidence so often missing from the Kiwis in these tests.

We have put the Australian game on a pedestal. We don't take the initiative often enough, on and off the field.

What I fear tonight is that the Kiwis will be too conservative and lack that bit of mystery.

Many will argue that you can't beat experience in test matches, but I beg to differ.

Our successes against Australia have always included someone new providing a bit of magic.

Tonight's side is big and experienced, and most players are in form. But they are also a group who have tried to beat Australia before and failed, some on many occasions.

This is one of the biggest issues Daniel Anderson will have worked on this week.

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The No 6, or standoff, is a position that must have caused the selectors plenty of problems when choosing this Kiwi team.

I think they have made a good choice with Willie Talau, although I suspect his lack of a kicking game will have a disastrous affect on New Zealand's field position - or more bluntly, the lack of it.

I watched young Lance Hohaia play in the Bartercard Cup last Sunday and he was sensational.

I am amazed he has been on the outer with the Warriors and therefore a no-go for Kiwi selection. He showed at the weekend that he has just what the Kiwis need tonight.

It's terrific to see Ruben Wiki is captain and he will do a great job.

The back three in the pack look a little slow and I think the Australians will capitalise in this area, particularly as players get tired.

Wiki is more effective wide of the ruck and should spend most of the game on the fringes where he has proved devastating.

Australia do have an advantage with their bench players and it is a definite risk not having decent backline cover on the Kiwi bench.

It does point to what I call a bully-ball type of game from the Kiwis forwards.

Australia have done New Zealand a huge favour leaving out the Knights' Matt Gidley and Timana Tahu. Those two have been a great centre-wing combination for Newcastle all year. I thought they would have made the Kangaroo team, with Matt Sing on the other wing and Anthony Minichiello on the bench, but they have gone for three forwards and super utility Craig Wing as reserves.

This is a very beatable Australian side. It is vital that if the Kiwis get several sets of six on Australia's line in the first 10 minutes they come away with points. If not, the game could be lost as early as that.

Australia won't have a fancy plan. They never do. They'll just minimise mistakes and apply pressure.

If the Kiwi defence can stop Australia's forwards around the ruck area many of their options will be taken away.

Time goes very quickly in test footy, so New Zealand must not be too conservative and always look to attack.

And if they don't aim up in defence it will be a quiet trip home.