Graham Lowe: Just thrown away

If Kiwi coach Brian McClennan was a musical man, he should have been smugly enjoying this week, humming the old hit Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead.

Because that lingering bad spell that seems to have hung over the Kiwis in recent years should have been well and truly cast off with a resounding win over an ordinary Great Britain outfit last weekend, and an automatic place in the Tri-Series final assured.

Instead, just when McClennan would have been thinking he was beginning to beat the bogey of Australia, the Kiwi coach finds his team's fate largely in the hands of the Kangaroos again this weekend.

He'll be praying that the Aussies put their own spell on what is sure to be a fired-up Pommie side, to allow the Kiwis safe passage to a final appearance which, quite frankly after last week's effort, they do not deserve.

If Australia win, the Kiwis are in. If the Poms win by nine points or more, the Kiwis also make it (at the expense of Australia), but if the Poms can win by just one-two points, the Kiwis make it ahead of them. It's a bitterly disappointing scenario for the Kiwis to be facing after promising so much in the early rounds of the competition.

The opportunity to cruise into the final of the Tri-Series was just waiting to be taken. Once again, the Kiwis blew it. Why?

It's incredible to contemplate at this level of the game, but for all the talk early on, there appeared to be a woeful lack of pride in the black jersey once again. That pride is what drags a team back from the edge of adversity, makes them dig in, and fight even harder to pull the game round.

I'm sure there is plenty of pride there but now is the chance to show it - if there is the opportunity after the Australian-Great Britain game.

Great sides can regroup at a certain crucial point in a match. It may be that they have a code word, and when that word is spoken, they accept that every player has to lift his effort 10 or 20 per cent for the next 10 minutes. They have to totally focus on changing the momentum of the game; often during this time just one superhuman play from an individual will re-ignite the team effort.

On the positive side, they did outscore Great Britain three tries to two in that second half. And from an old coach's point of view, McClennan must have done a good job in the dressing room at halftime in addressing the major problems.

Not being able to convert chances is a worry and must be addressed before the final, if they are in it.

The Poms' effort to come back from the dead and flog the in-form Kiwis was the best of any team in the series so far.

Pommie players are used to playing on the knife-edge because of the knockout competitions that are played in Britain.

In this type of game any team can win from anywhere if they are good enough.

It helps to develop a never-say-die mentality and their display against the Kiwis showed that attitude is alive and well.

It was obvious to me that coach Brian Noble's game plan would be very simple - rushing defence and attack two or three wide of the ruck with plenty of support play.

That, coupled with the magic their hooker Kieron Cunningham can supply from dummy-half, would put the Kiwis under pressure.

Their plan worked to perfection but it was helped by some very inadequate performances by the Kiwis.

The forwards looked ponderous and flat-footed and never had the match of their lively opposition at any stage. Because of that, the backs may as well have stayed on the team bus.

Changes are needed in the back row of the Kiwis scrum to introduce more speed and agility.

The attack was also far too shallow and this made easy pickings for the eager Great Britain defence.

The only time any depth was applied came when Stacey Jones twice put on run-around moves two wide of the ruck. Both resulted in tries.

In McClennan's own words, the team let themselves, and Kiwi supporters down.

Australia are extremely vulnerable against Great Britain on Sunday morning and could be beaten.

But the Aussies are at their best in big games and they don't come much bigger than this.

They will not be swaggering round with their confidence all over their faces this week.

They are now under extreme pressure, none more so than Kangaroo coach Wayne Bennett.

If they are knocked out of this series you can forget about seeing Bennett as Aussie coach again. He is expected to win.

In 1983, Australia were coached by the legendary Arthur Beetson. They were hot favourites, particularly after beating us at Carlaw Park in the first test.

We came back and won the second at Lang Park the next week. Beetson was immediately sacked. Arthur Beetson was a far bigger name than Wayne Bennett, so, despite Bennett's great record, a failure in this tri-series means he will be history.

I can never recall when I have heard so much comment, particularly from the Aussie media, about how weak and beatable their line-up looks. And I have to say I agree.