Peter Jessup: Anderson has a lot riding on this one

COMMENT

While there is nothing riding on the Kiwis' final game of the Tri-Nations as far as the series goes, the game on Sunday may well determine the jobs of coach and long-term captain.

Coach Daniel Anderson has another year to go on his contract and as the team went into this series he was keen to see that through.

The NZRL remains committed to him, but he will face close inspection after the failure to push on from first-half leads against Australia and Great Britain, conceding games and a place in the final.

Dismal failure at Hull on Sunday morning (NZT) would bring pressure for change.

Anderson is looking for another NRL job. Exposure in England, where coaching turnover is higher, might bring a Super League offer.

If working fulltime overseas, he would not meet the NZRL requirement that the Kiwis coach reside in New Zealand, the rule used to oust last coach Gary Freeman.

With Ruben Wiki out with a broken jaw, the logical choice as captain is 2001 leader Nathan Cayless. At 26, Cayless promises to be around for some time.

He is playing off the bench solely because of his lack of game-time through the season after recovery from a broken arm. But he has been one of the Kiwis' best in all games.

Cayless offers longevity over Wiki, who is 31. He also offers the Australian mindset, having grown up in their system. Like Wiki, he will lead by example in taking the ball up. But he offers more in organising defences when the Kiwis do not have the ball and has a longer captaincy history.

Anderson has taken criticism for not involving Robbie Paul more and using him in the halves rather than at dummy-half. But Paul's form has been poor.

He made little impact against Great Britain last time and apparently played an ordinary game against France. He retains his spot because hope remains he will spark to his usual live-wire, confident self.

Nor did Ali Lauitiiti play well. With Sonny Bill Williams gone this weekend because of a shoulder injury, Lauitiiti must step up to deliver the line-breaks and off-loads or the Kiwis attack will stutter.

The backline has stuttered without a specialist five-eighth. The attack of centres Nigel Vagana and Clinton Toopi has been short on combination and timing with those around them.

On the wings, Shontayne Hape looked strong and perhaps a better midfield option, while no one has typified the Kiwis' 40-minute game more than Francis Meli, who slides from designated defensive hitter and scoring option to sleepwalker and back.

Word from within the Kiwis camp is that the players do not blame Anderson for their exit from the series. Rather, the fault is accepted squarely as they rue letting in three tries eight minutes after halftime. They got over-confident, despite the halftime direction not to.

Anderson's preparation for this last test will not be helped by the departure of assistant coach Brian McClennan. McClennan, a certainty for the 2004 Bartercard coach of the year award, has apparently been impressed with Anderson's coaching regime.

The big question has to be about New Zealand league's reliance on Polynesian power.

The Lions won last weekend with a draw-and-pass game, which used to be New Zealand's strength. The Kiwis have played up the middle, trying to force line busts for off-loads, relying on the physical approach rather than brains to engineer a gap.

The 2004 Kiwis have suffered for vision and game-steering because they have played without a specialist six and with Thomas Leuluai fresh out of Bartercard Cup at half, due to injury. The 2005 Kiwis will hopefully be much better armed to play a smart attacking game, using the full variety of kicking skills, with as many as seven players competing in the halves: Leuluai, Jerome Ropati, Lance Hohaia, Benji Marshall, Marcus Perenara with brother Henry a possible six and Stacey Jones if he reconsiders his international future.

Balance has been what's missing this year, as well as the mental application to play out 80 minutes.

The Lions look the better side on Sunday because they have that balance, with talent in the halves and their six, seven and 13 all possessing great kicking games.

Positives for the Kiwis include the emergence of Louis Anderson as a real test prospect, of Brent Webb as a useful fullback and of Sonny Bill Williams as the player he was cracked up to be.

It is a young squad, one that will be smarting from the early exit from the series, a hurt that will hopefully make them a more determined unit.