League: Kiwis underdogs on paper - but don't write them off

The Kiwis and the New Zealand A team were testing themselves against each other in an opposed training session at Parramatta Stadium last night with nervous coaches hoping there would be no injuries.

For a change, no one was in doubt before the last hard hit-out, no one facing suspension.

The larger than usual squad had jelled well, said Kiwis coach Brian McClennan.

"We know we're up against one of the toughest tasks in sport," he said.

He rattles off the stats about the last Kiwis win in Sydney being in 1959, the Kangaroos' 80 per cent winning record.

"Man, I like the idea of overturning that. We all do. The players are comfortable, they understand that they have to push themselves to places they haven't been before. They are all ready to do that."

McClennan conceded that a punter looking at the teams on paper would go with the odds - the Aussies at $1.16 and the Kiwis $4.75.

"Darren Lockyer and Andrew Johns against Nigel Vagana playing out of position and Stacey Jones - people will pick them against us, but the game's not going to be played on paper.

"It's going to come down to who can win territory and possession. We know they have the best kickers, they can kick longer. We know we're going to have to work harder to win the game, and we're prepared to do that."

The players all understood the game plan, McClennan said.

He dismissed any suggestion the Kiwis had an advantage in a younger and more in-form forward pack with more finals experience.

"They'll try to talk up our pack and as usual they'll try to spread it wide, then cut us up the middle bringing [Kangaroos fullback Anthony] Minichiello and others up the middle."

It was crucial that they hang onto the ball and that they were not panicked early in their own tackle count, McClennan said after watching video of recent tests when the Kiwis won and drew against Australia at North Harbour and lost away.

"The Aussies work hard on the first and second tackle and they force us to shovel the ball early. We start doing things we don't want to do," McClennan said.

With the experience on board through captain Ruben Wiki, Stacey Jones as game-runner, Vagana, Paul Rauhihi, David Kidwell, Paul Whatuira and Clinton Toopi - who have all played grand finals and tests - there should be no panic.

Certainly Vagana had no qualms. He was at five-eighth when the Kiwis won at Albany in 2003 but has just two NRL games in the six jersey and said he expected plenty of attention from the Australian defence.

"Always, you're going to be a target. It's something I will deal with. Benji Marshall has shown that you can succeed without being a traditional five-eighth. I think it's harder when you are up against really big halves, a big five-eighth like Braith Anasta, but we'll see how I go.

"Most of the stuff I do off the cuff, that's what worked with me and Noddy (Sharks halfback Brett Kimmorley). I normally play out of position [for New Zealand]. I'm used to it."

McClennan told the Aussie media he had no problems with English referee Steve Ganson controlling the match, but as his opposite Wayne Bennett had requested a meeting, he was "duty bound to go along now".

"I wasn't going to," McClennan said.

"I've seen a lot of the English games, so I already know how he refs. He deserves to be taking the test match. He's the top guy in England. I'm not going to assume what Wayne is going to do with the referee, but you should have an idea what the ref is going to do if you watch his games. I'm duty bound to see him now."

The Aussies were suggesting that the interpretation of the surrender tackle rule was a big concern and that the Kiwis would be relying on "huge forwards to slow the pace of the game by dominating in tackles" while the Kangaroos would attempt to run the Kiwis off their feet.