KEY POINTS:
New Zealand rugby league's most successful coach has challenged the Kiwis to flick on the flair in a bid to keep their tenuous Tri-Nations title defence alive.
Frank Endacott, who maintained an unbeaten record against Great Britain during a seven-year reign as the national coach, believes New Zealand's best chance of negotiating an increasingly unlikely path to the final is by shedding their conservative approach against the Lions here at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night.
After consecutive losses to Australia and the stripping of their competition points via the Nathan Fien eligibility drama, the Kiwis are two points behind Great Britain in the standings -- a deficit compounded by an unfavourable points differential.
They must win their last round robin match -- preferably by close to 28 points -- and then rely on the Kangaroos to avenge a shock loss to Great Britain next weekend to facilitate a repeat of last year's trans-Tasman finale.
Endacott, who presided over 22 wins and two draws during his 35-test stint in charge from 1994 to 2000, said the Kiwis had to make the running against a side he doubted would be content to protect their position of dominance.
"They've got to put all the recent issues at the backs of their heads and just worry about a playing a real positive game," he said.
"If they go out with the conservative game plan they have been playing -- five drives and a kick -- that won't get them their points differential. It'll end up a tight game whatever the result.
"They've got to go out there and not be stupid, but chance their arm a little bit more than they have been.
"They have to do more with the football instead of putting it up the jumper.
"If they can score early and get their confidence up and then say 'hey we're not going to defend our lead, we're going to attack for 80 minutes', anything can happen, they can win and win well."
Endacott, who fashioned a six-win one-draw record against the British, admitted an expansive approach was still no guarantee of success against a team discounted a fortnight ago as no-hopers.
"Everyone wrote them off (but) I knew they were always capable of pulling off a big one," said Endacott, who was familiar with the current crop of players through his recent tenure at British club Widnes.
"There's always a chance of an upset with Great Britain. I know the players and the coach (Brian Noble), they were always a threat."
He also believes the Kangaroos are capable of putting the Lions to the sword in Brisbane on November 18 despite losing 12-23 in Sydney three days ago.
"There's always that chance of a blowout if Australia get their act together. They usually respond to a beating in pretty brutal fashion."
However, Endacott said the Kangaroos were also vulnerable, and he rated captain Darren Lockyer as the only player to fear.
"If you look at the make up of the side, you haven't got the great players that have been in there in the last few decades -- the Brad Fittlers, Laurie Daleys and Andrew Johns.
"Lockyer is an exception to that but outside of him you wouldn't fear any player. I believe we're on even footing with them."
For Endacott, that makes the Nathan Fien selection disaster even more galling.
"They had two very good choices (at hooker) that were always there -- Lance Hohaia and Motu Tony.
"If they picked Lance (a replacement after Fien was barred last week) in the first place this wouldn't have happened.
"I've always said you should look at our Kiwi players first unless there's an absolute standout from overseas. Where it's a 50-50 call you should go for the Kiwi every time."
- NZPA
