League: Kiwis look good for place in Tri-Series final

NZ 42 Great Britain 26

The Kiwis overcame their tendency for second-half collapses to set themselves up for a showdown with Australia in the Tri-Series final.

The scheduling that was supposed to have suited Great Britain now suits the Kiwis.

They get to watch the other two sides bash each other next weekend before playing their second test against the Lions, then having a second break before the final at Elland Rd in Leeds at the end of November.

Coach Brian McClennan instilled a good game plan and the Kiwis delivered on the shortened pitch at Loftus Rd, London, attacking the Lions' right-side pairing of Keith Senior and Brian Carney who had both had two months out of the game.

Kiwis halfback Stacey Jones was their man of the match.

He set up try one for Brent Webb after just four minutes and the decider for Paul Rauhihi at the 71-minute mark, then held the ball up before off-loading to send Clinton Toopi under the bar for their seventh try, plus converting all seven.

It was Jones' kicking game that put the pressure on Carney, the Irish winger having dropped high-balls punted to him in the warm-up before the game.

The Kiwis led 18-2 after 23 minutes through tries to Manu Vatuvei and Jake Webster.

The gap might have been more but for English video referee Bob Connolly disallowing a second touchdown to Vatuvei.

Connolly went over the tape again and again, finally ruling a knock-on. But it was as if he was seeking ways to deny points.

He denied Vatuvei again later in the game in another 50/50 decision. Certainly Vatuvei showed he can replace Lesley Vainikolo no problem - learning to use his power to stay in-field and to swap the ball for the fend-and-score.

His one issue is his hands, a knock-on when he failed to take a bomb five minutes after the break which allowed the Lions to score and get back into the game.

A 24-8 lead at the break was quickly brought back to 24-20 with a try to Paul Johnson.

It was no coincidence that this occurred while Kiwis captain Ruben Wiki was off the field for eight minutes, the same having happened when Australia blitzed them with quick tries in the first two Tri-Series games.

Awen Guttenbeil made most ground for the Kiwis in this test, 133m, but Wiki was a close second with 125m plus 30 tackles.

In the second row David Solomona, David Kidwell and Frank Pritchard all had solid games, producing damaging runs, off-loads and secure tackling, though Solomona is on report for an early up-turning of Stuart Fielden.

Out back, Nigel Vagana was the defensive organiser, Paul Whatuira and Toopi testing in attack and Webb growing into a role as seasoned test fullback, clever in cover defence as well as support play.

The Kiwis won through superior power and impact from the pack, more enthusiasm and commitment on defence and a smarter halves pairing.

The victory sets them up to go on and win again, and McClennan has lots of depth in the squad to choose from. Some players will get a chance against England at Bolton next weekend and France in a fortnight.

Lance Hohaia is recovering well from ankle ligament injury and is chalked in as halfback.

Jones is again unavailable due to family and French commitments with his new club UTC, though the suggestion remains that he may not yet be finished.

The whole squad has taken confidence from his presence and there is a comfort about them that suggests they can go all the way.

McClennan and his adviser and match-day message boy Graeme Norton will have already begun adjusting the game plan.

The pride instilled by McClennan has played a big part, Wiki saying after the game that, "Bluey's just been himself, real passionate and talking from the heart".

Their next Tri-Nations game, at Huddersfield, will be played on a regulation-sized pitch.

Loftus Rd, the soccer ground that is home to Queens Park Rangers, is 94m.

New Zealand referee Glen Black's performance was not top-notch.

He appeared to be over-compensating for any supposed bias towards the Kiwis, making several ordinary decisions.

If the Kiwis do make the final against the Kangaroos, Australia are sure to press for their referee, Tim Mander, to control the game ahead of Brit Steve Ganson.

And it would be nice not to have to put up with the biased commentary of Mike Stephenson and Eddie Hemmings.

"I suppose you could say they deserve this," didn't show much graciousness in defeat.

And then there are the simply weird remarks about the Lions needing a good strapping with the leather and how they could do with some of Vagana's body hair.