League: Kidwell expecting traditional physical start to test

David Kidwell in training this week. Picture / Dean Purcell

Trans-Tasman league tests usually begin with a torrid opening stanza and Kiwis hard man David Kidwell is relishing the prospect of more of the same in Auckland tonight.

"That's what's great about test football -- there are physical exchanges in the first 10 to 20 minutes," he said.

"Everyone knows it's physical but within the laws. That's why we've got respect for the Australians and they've got the same for us."

Kidwell, 29, will gain his 20th cap when defending champions New Zealand meet favourites Australia in the opening test of the Tri-Nations tournament.

The second rower will get to lock horns again with Brisbane prop Petero Civoniceva, whom he lowered in a bone-jarring hit in the National Rugby League (NRL) grand final a fortnight ago.

Civoniceva was left dazed by the collision and needed to be help up by a trainer.

Kidwell, who was playing his last match for the Melbourne Storm before a move to South Sydney, said he could not remember much about the tackle, and for him it was now history.

Also history, he said, were New Zealand's most recent results against Australia, which had not been brought up during the Kiwis' build-up this week.

There was no inspiration to be gained from the team's stunning Tri-Nations final victory in Leeds last in November, nor any lessons to be learned from their heavy Anzac loss in Brisbane.

"Leeds was last year and the Anzac test was in May," he said. "It's now October. Obviously it was great to win the Tri-Nations, but if we keep thinking about last year, we'll get nowhere.

"We want to improve again this year. That's the mindset."

The Kangaroos will head to Mt Smart Stadium with a significant advantage in match fitness.

Teammate

Among the Kiwis, Kidwell's Storm teammate Adam Blair also played in the grand final.

Four others took part at various stages of the NRL playoffs, while halfback Stacey Jones' Super League season with French club Les Catalans finished in mid-September.

The 10 others in the squad last played for six weeks ago.

By comparison, all but two of the Kangaroos were involved in the NRL post-season and eight appeared in the grand final.

New Zealand coach Brian McClennan has said his side are underdone and will get better as the seven-week tournament goes on.

But Australian skipper Darren Lockyer played down how big a help that would be to the Kangaroos tonight.

"It's an advantage but at the end of the day it's a test match," he said.

While the Australians are warm favourites to start their campaign on a winning note, New Zealand fans can find comfort on at least two scores.

Over the past three years, the Kiwis have managed to overcome the hurdle of going into a test match fresh.

In October, 2003, they won the 100th meeting between the countries, 30-16 at North Harbour Stadium, and 12 months later drew 16-16 at the same venue.

Last October, they beat Australia in Sydney for the first time in 46 years in a shock 38-28 result.

New Zealand also shade Australia in tests in Auckland over the past decade, the Kiwis winning four times since 1997 and the Kangaroos three, with one draw.

- NZPA