KEY POINTS:
LEEDS - David Kidwell is confident the new generation of Kiwis will make a triumphant return in their rugby test series with Great Britain despite losing their most senior player.
The veteran second rower was forced to withdraw from the squad and was on his way home to
Christchurch to be beside his seriously ill mother.
She insisted he remain in Britain to represent the All Golds in the Centenary test on Sunday morning and Kidwell did that. He left the team for home last night.
Despite his absence and a record 58-0 loss to Australia last week, Kidwell believes the inexperienced Kiwis squad will bounce back and overcome the British on their home soil.
"My mother's fallen ill with cancer and family comes first," he said.
"She wanted me to play this one game (All Golds) and then come home.
"I won't be here, but I'm confident they'll win the series - whether it's 2-1 or 3-0," he said.
"You've just got to get back on the horse and ride it, and I believe they can do it.
"The new team have got a lot to learn, they're young, but they've been training really well."
Kidwell, with 24 test appearances, was the most experienced player in the squad following the retirement of Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki and Nigel Vagana from international football.
The Kiwi greats agreed to pull on the black jersey one last time for the All Golds and bowed out with a 25-18 win over the Northern Union.
"I wouldn't call it the end of an era - just the start of a new one," Kidwell said.
"We had three legends in our team and it was nice to send them off on a good note.
"All three of them are very close to the Kiwi team and will remain part of our brotherhood."
The loss of Kidwell is the latest blow for coach Gary Kemble, who has already seen Brent Webb, Luke Covell, Krisnan Inu and Steve Matai ruled out, while Benji Marshall and Sonny Bill Williams are also unavailable.
Kemble has completed his 24-man squad by calling up experienced Leeds centre Clinton Toopi and Bradford winger Tame Tupou, who both played for the All Golds in Warrington.
"It seems to be one thing after another at the minute," Kemble joked.
"It's a big blow but at the end of the day, these things happen.
"We're missing a few but this team is young, enthusiastic and wants to do well. Our senior players now weren't senior players last year - they've stepped up."
Kidwell's departure has also shifted more responsibility on Wiki's successor as the Kiwis captain, Roy Asotasi.
"We've been getting around Roy to make sure the leadership's right.
"Everything's going to take a few games, but we're getting there.
"It's been tough for Roy but he's learning every step of the way.
"He's learned from the mistakes last week - as we all have.
"But we've worked together - myself as the coach and Roy as the captain - and we've got closer, which is really good for the team."
The first test will be played in Huddersfield on Sunday morning (NZT).
- NZPA