League: Defence the key, says Webb

Fullback Brent Webb says defence will be a key for the Kiwis in Auckland tomorrow night as they try to inflict rare back-to-back defeats on Australia.

While Australian critics have slated the Kangaroos' effort in their 38-28 loss in the opening Tri-Nations test in Sydney last weekend, Webb said his teammates should be given due credit.

"Teams can only play as well as you let them," he said.

"I thought our defence was brilliant, except for those lapses before halftime, when we got into a bit of rut."

The late first-half lapses allowed the Kangaroos to wipe out an 18-0 Kiwis lead in quick time before the interval.

"To the guys' credit, we came out in the second half and defended really well," Webb said.

The Queensland-born Webb, who made his debut for the Kiwis last year, stamped his mark on the match at Telstra Stadium with a fine individual try that took the Kiwis out to their 18-point advantage.

He outpaced opposition halfback Andrew Johns, threw a dummy and then scooted over.

"It was just a planned move from a scrum to get ourselves set for attack," he said.

"But I saw someone shoot out of the line and all of a sudden there was a big gap in front of me. Towards the end it was just a matter of me putting my head down and running across the tryline.

"It's not often you get to score against Australia and this one would be right up there in terms of satisfaction."

But Webb said the Australians were bound to be fired up at Ericsson Stadium and intent on revenge.

The answer for the Kiwis would simply be to "turn up again".

"We can't accept the one win last weekend," he said.

"Beating Australia in Australia will mean nothing unless we perform again on Friday night."

Webb was part of the Kiwis' dismal Tri-Nations campaign last year, when they failed to win any of their four tests, finishing with just a point from a draw with Australia.

"A lot of people wrote us off before the first game last Saturday and we have a point to prove," he said.

"We have to prove to ourselves, and to the other countries, that we aren't going to be easy beats."

- NZPA