It's no use trying to beat up the Aussies - they're just too tough
Tonight's transtasman test could well come down to how the Kiwis approach the job.
There's been a lot of tough talk coming out of the Kiwis' camp about how the likes of Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves can bash the Aussies.
I hope they're bluffing. That confrontational approach may have
worked in the past but it's not the way this Kiwis side should play tonight. Steve Kearney is a smart coach and I think he'll see that.
This team is down on size compared to the likes of David Shillington, Petero Civoniceva and Sam Thaiday. If anything, it is the Aussies who are set up to play a physical game.
The Kiwis need to play smart and with energy.
Sam Perritt, Steve Matai, Jason Nightingale and Junior Sa'u are all great dummy half runners. If they can make good inroads out of dummy half and start the sets well then the Kiwis will have a good platform to play off.
The absence of so many senior players is certainly going to put plenty of pressure on what is a pretty inexperienced Kiwis side. The guys who are absent represent a good chunk of the experience and impact that we have been building in recent years.
There is no doubt the Kiwis' options are limited, but it is still a pretty solid side.
And it is pretty exciting that for the first time we can build a team around the halves, hooker and fullback. Benji Marshall, Kieran Foran, and Isaac Luke are all classy young players, while Lance Hohaia is an experienced head at the back.
They are all players who can execute well, build a set of six and then come up with a strike.
Foran is destined for great things. Not only does he bring great attacking ability, but he has that defensive attitude that you really need in the halves at test level.
For years, the Aussies have had a huge edge in the halves. Darren Lockyer has been a fixture and they've been able to slot any of five good halfbacks in at seven.
But now we have a combination we can build around. That's massive for the future of the Kiwis.
I know some people have questioned whether an ageing Lockyer might be a weak link for the Kangaroos, but I don't believe that at all. He is such a pro, he prepares himself so well that he will be certainly be up to the job. I think he's got another good year in him. I don't think he'd stay in the game just to reach a few milestones. He's not that sort of bloke.
The biggest concern I have about the Kiwis is the make-up of the back row. You need a combination of industrious players and players with the ability to do something on attack. This side looks like it is lacking players to fill in the holes on defence.
Adam Blair is a prop-come-second rower, Bronson Harrison is a game-breaker and Ben Matulino is a big unit who is good at powering it up on the fringe. Those guys have all got the ability to break the line, but I think we are missing that grafting player, like Simon Mannering, which is vital in test footy.
With the likes of Anthony Watmough and Luke Lewis coming back against the grain, Australia always test you around the ruck. When our boys are a bit tired and the sliding defence is a bit slow, that is where the Aussies have got us in the past.
The Kiwis have often struggled in these mid-season tests mainly because our players don't get time to play together and form combinations. And at times we've struggled to put together a decent team because of injuries and suspensions. To cover for the injuries and suspensions, the Kiwis have often used players out of position, and when you're up against a side like the Kangaroos you need to know your trade.
Australia have Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk all playing at the same club. All they do is slot into the Kangaroos and away they go. That has been a huge advantage for them.
But that is changing. What we are seeing now is a base of Kiwi players who have played together a bit and are developing an awareness of how each other plays.
Even without core players like Mannering, Roy Asotasi, Fuifui Moimoi, Frank Pritchard and Jeremy Smith we are developing a side that has a bit of continuity about it.
Marshall, Hohaia, Matai, Perrett, Luke, Blair, Harrison and Rapira have all played together a lot - and been on winning sides. They all have that winning mentality. It is not all about Australia any more. Before we held them up on a pedestal, going "wow this is a magnificent side" - and before you go out there you're already beaten. Now our boys don't really care about the Aussies. Waerea-Hargreaves is a perfect example. When he played against Petero last year he had no respect. I love that. Isaac and Benji are the same. They have all got the attitude that they are "the man".
That's why we have seen a change in the Kiwis in the past few years - not only do we have coaching stability with Stephen Kearney, but we're also finding stability - and confidence - in key positions across the park. With this, the Kiwis are looking to the future and it's a brighter prospect that I've seen before.
HEAD TO HEAD
AAMI Park, Melbourne, Thursday night, 10. SS1
Referee: Richard Silverwood (England).
New Zealand
1.) Lance Hohaia
2.) Sam Perrett
3.) Junior Sa'u
4.) Steve Matai
5.) Jason Nightingale
6.) Benji Marshall (c)
7.) Kieran Foran
13.) Adam Blair
12.) Zeb Taia
11.) Bronson Harrison
10.) Frank-Paul Nuuausala
9.) Isaac Luke
8.) Sam Rapira
Interchange: Aaron Heremaia, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Ben Matulino, Sika Manu. 18th man: Alex Glenn.
Australia
1.) Billy Slater
2.) Brett Morris
3.) Greg Inglis
4.) Jamie Lyon
5.) Jarryd Hayne
6.) Darren Lockyer (c)
7.) Cooper Cronk
13.) Paul Gallen
12.) Luke Lewis
11.) Sam Thaiday
10.) Petero Civoniceva
9.) Cameron Smith
8.) David Shillington
Interchange: Kurt Gidley, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Michael Weyman. 18th man: Nate Myles.
