League: Must-win Kiwis taking new attitude to meet England

Jason Taumalolo of the Kiwis. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney is expecting improvements across the board from his team, when they take on England in tonight's crucial Four Nations clash in Dunedin.

Dissatisfied with their performance in last weekend's narrow win over Samoa in Whangarei, Kearney believes his players are determined to rectify things at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

"The onus is on everybody to step up," Kearney said following the Kiwis captain's run yesterday.

"We weren't satisfied with our performance last week against Samoa so the onus is on everyone.

"The forwards felt they could have done better and so did the backs but we're all in the same boat and we all need to improve."

The Kiwis had taken some valuable lessons out of the Toll Stadium match and Kearney felt an improved attitude had been evident throughout the build-up to tonight's game.

"There have certainly been some lessons for us. I've certainly seen a change in that attitude so it's a matter of making sure ... It's going to take a 17-man performance tomorrow night against a very good English side."

Captain Simon Mannering echoed those sentiments and believes the Kiwis have benefited from what was a tightly-fought and highly physical encounter against Samoa. Any complacency that had crept in following their first-up win over Australia was gone and an improved focus had been instilled over the past six days.

"Samoa put us under a lot of pressure and it was probably a good game for us to play, after the boys were pretty pumped after the win against Aussie, to put things back in perspective," Mannering said.

"It really honed our focus this weekend for England, especially after seeing bits of their game against Aussie. Preparations have been good, we're pretty focused and hopefully it shows tomorrow."

Despite winning both their opening tournament matches, the Kiwis are taking nothing for granted.

"We're taking this as a must-win game for us. It's a test match against a very good England side and one we want to win. They've got a lot to play for so I'm sure it's going to show out there," he said.

Tonight's test is the first to be played in Dunedin since the two sides met at the old Caledonian Ground way back in 1928.

And although league does not share the high profile of rugby within the university town, the Kiwis were enjoying the southern hospitality and doing their bit to promote the growth of the 13-man code.

"The response has been really positive and I know from coming down here with the Warriors a couple of times that they enjoy their league down here.

"I don't think it's about a competition between rugby and league, it's more giving the kids or whoever wants to play it an opportunity to play it and then make up their minds for themselves.

"It can only be good for the game to come down to parts like Dunedin that probably don't see a hell of a lot of it but have a taste for it and enjoy it," Mannering said.