League: Muddling win makes it tricky for Kearney

Kieran Foran might need to rest after injuring his thigh in Saturday's game. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney has some selection headaches as he looks to settle on combinations for Saturday's Four Nations clash against England in Dunedin.

Kearney might be tempted to rest Kieran Foran this week, after the five-eighth received a corked thigh in Saturday's 14-12 win over Samoa, while questions remain over the Kiwis' best outside back formation.

Thomas Leuluai and Josh Hoffman could provide cover in the No6 role, and the latter could come into contention for a run at fullback, wing or in the midfield.

Match-winning try-scorer Shaun Kenny-Dowall turned in a mixed showing in a stuttering left-side attack at Toll Stadium, and Gerard Beale, used on the left wing in Brisbane, remains another centre or fullback option.

Right winger Jason Nightingale was on hand to score vital tries in both victories but together with fullback Peta Hiku, looked tentative in Whangarei.

Kearney has shown faith in Nightingale, Kenny-Dowall and Hiku, and although he will not want to second-guess his selections, the Forsyth Barr Stadium game looms as the last chance for experimentation.

The make-up of the bench remains uncertain, with the nature of Leuluai's role likely to determine whether Lewis Brown continues to fill the No14 jumper.

Debutant prop Suaia Matagi put in a committed effort off the bench but had little time on the park and is expected to make way for the return of the experienced Greg Eastwood.

Hardworking forwards Martin Taupau and Tohu Harris have both impressed in the first two games and are likely to lock down the remaining two bench spots.

While the Kiwis' performance was far from perfect, hooker Issac Luke and left wing Manu Vatuvei produced strong games in their first outings of the tournament.

Luke settled into his work comfortably after a month-long suspension, making eight runs from dummy-half and getting through 28 tackles in a positive 70-minute contribution.

The No 9 will be all the better for the run and will look to raise his game to another level in Dunedin.

Vatuvei was outstanding in his first match since the Warriors' last outing against Penrith almost two months ago and deserves to hold his spot for the Dunedin game.

The big winger was regularly sighted carting the ball up the middle of the park and was one of the few ball-runners to trouble Samoa's formidable defence.

The 28-year-old veteran helped lead the way for the younger members of the team, particularly in the second-half when the Kiwis were battling to get out of their half.

Despite Kearney's various conundrums and Saturday's unconvincing win, the Kiwis are well poised to reach their tournament-winning potential but need to quickly click back into top gear.

3 things about the Kiwis

Beast dominant
Manu Vatuvei made six tackle breaks and racked up 184 metres.

Metre-eater
He was the Kiwis' second-best metre-eater behind prop Jesse Bromwich, who made a game-high 201 metres.

Luke strong
Hooker Issac Luke had an impressive game in his first outing of the tournament.