Peter Jessup: Cop that, Benji - let it be a lesson

Before last night's Anzac test, new Kiwis captain Benji Marshall declared that the contest was between two good sides, "one's hurting, they want revenge, and the other is on the rise."

Well, the Aussie hurt counted for more than the Kiwi confidence as the Kangaroos gave Benji and his squad a reality check.

As usual, the Kiwis started with great enthusiasm, smashing the Australians back in defence and employing a smart kick-chase to restrict their ground gain.

Then followed a familiar pattern. Mistakes, few though they were, were turned to points by their opponents.

The Kiwis were down 16-6 at the break after a poor pass from Benji was knocked on by Sia Soliola, putting Israel Folau in two plays later, then when Johnathan Thurston sold Adam Blair and Soliola a dummy and split them to score and finally when Justin Hodges was allowed a run to the posts.

As usual, the Kiwis lost concentration at critical times - for every nine good minutes there was a very bad one.

As usual, they failed to execute their own chances on attack, missing three chances in the first 40 minutes and getting few in the second when as, as usual, the Aussies dominated.

As usual, the Kangaroos exploited their superior speed out wide. The all-Queensland backline scored all the tries.

For the Kiwis there was no overcoming the loss of three important players and as usual, one was lost to suspension for an offence in the NRL.

That was livewire hooker Issac Luke; the other two were the injured Jeremy Smith and Frank Pritchard.

The game was the 115th between the two sides, and the score is now Kangaroos 85, Kiwis 28, with two draws.

In tests since the Kiwis resurrected their fortunes and those of the international game with a 24-0 win in the 2005 Tri Nations final in England the Aussies have won 10 from 13.

But last night's loss is not the end of the Kiwis' resurrection.

Most of the players are under 25, and they will learn and stay around.

More players of New Zealand background but qualifying for the Kangaroos through residency are choosing to make themselves available for the Kiwis these days.

The Kiwis will have increasing choice for all positions.

There was little shine for the Kiwis last night but the future looks bright.