KEY POINTS:
The two form teams of the Tri-Nations are on the park tomorrow night in Wellington and I hope the crowd turns out in big numbers to support the Kiwis' do-or-die effort.
The Poms outplayed Australia in every area of the game last week where the final scoreline flattered
the Aussies. Brian Noble's team deserved far more credit than they were given by Australia's biased Channel Nine commentary team during the match.
Australian coach Ricky Stuart should be concerned, as the Kangaroos have now been outplayed twice in three games.
He's a realist and he'll know it was only the individual brilliance of Greg Inglis and Darren Lockyer that got them home against the Kiwis in Melbourne.
The Kiwis' chances of remaining in this series are now slim by any stretch of the imagination - but if we need a miracle, then Kiwis coach Brian McClennan is the man.
Last year he delivered a sensational success on the back of his belief the New Zealand players, when given the right amount of encouragement and direction, are as good as the Australians, all day every day.
He has developed this Kiwi side around the virtues of pride, persistence, teamwork, selflessness, commitment and humility.
Whatever may have happened in the past few weeks has been tough for everyone but it is McClennan's virtues that give the Kiwis their best chance - and our best hope - of continuing to have a say in the competition.
The off-field dramas that have left the unfortunate Kiwis sitting on zero points are still running - like the horse I backed in the Melbourne Cup.
But those dramas aren't the end of the world and, as much as I and all the New Zealand fans would like to see us retain the trophy, Bluey has delivered a more important factor to the Kiwis, a level of consistency.
This series is as much about the coaches as it is the players and the Poms have their own version of McClennan with "Nobby" Noble in charge.
He's a proud Pom from North Yorkshire who has the same belief in his side as McClennan.
Neither coach has the resources of Stuart but they both made better use of the available talent.
Great Britain's victory against Australia was stunning and proves there is little between the three sides.
There is more at stake in tomorrow's game for the Kiwis but they are up against a more skilful side than the Aussie team who beat New Zealand in Melbourne.
Under Noble, the tourists have delivered a brand of footy very similar to that played by Great Britain in the sixties and seventies.
Passing before the line made Australia very uncomfortable last week and that, combined with good backing up and great defence, has made the Poms a huge threat. I'm also seeing signs of more consistency in the Pommie team.
The same can't be said for Australia, but they remain the favourites.
The challenge for the Kiwis is astronomical but not out of reach. They will need to force the issue and also force the pass at times but the team are capable and experienced enough to do that well.
The Poms are giving away very few chances and I'm expecting that to continue tomorrow night. It will be critical to take full advantage of any chances that pop up.
Helter-skelter footy is frightening when you are sitting in the coach's box but I think the Kiwis have no option but to employ this tactic. The unexpected must be put to use.
The Kiwis can thrive on that type of game and will need to create as many draw-and-pass situations as possible from anywhere on the park.
But helter-skelter won't do on defence.
Communication will be the key here or we'll see panic, and any defence that panics breaks down. An attacking, organised defence works extremely well with an open attacking game.
In defence we'll need to keep a close watch on Sean Long who was in fantastic form for the Poms last week and is their most dangerous player.
He also showed great courage in that match when the Aussies tried to bash him out of the game and directed plenty of forwards his way on attack. He will be even better for that run.
A conservative approach will not be good enough for the Kiwis, it must be all or nothing.
Whatever the result I'm tipping this as the game of the tournament.
