League: Kiwis triumph a benchmark

Manu Vatuvei celebrates his try. Photo / Getty Images

A few minutes after midnight last night, there was a unique gathering out on the middle of Wellington Stadium.

As the cleaners went about their work, the Kiwis players and staff formed a huddle near the halfway line. They left the champagne, beer, well-wishers and media in their dressing room and headed out for a private gathering.

It said a lot about the closeness of this team, but also signalled that this is just the start. There have been false dawns before with the Kiwis but this feels different.

"We have set ourselves a bit of a standard and they need to remind themselves that that is the benchmark," coach Stephen Kearney said after the 22-18 win over Australia. "That is what we have to live up to now and that is what needs to be maintained."

Thomas Leuluai, who was cruelly ruled out of last night's match but all smiles after the victory, summed up the feeling perfectly.

"We can't get too carried away and let's see what happens in the future but this feels like a special group," said Leuluai, who made his debut in 2003. "Personally, I've never been in a Kiwis team that has gone unbeaten like this."

While the result was massive, the way they played was just as significant. At times it felt like a return to a New Zealand style of league, like the penny has dropped that there's no point trying to beat the Kangaroos at their own game.

"We played our game tonight," said Dean Whare. "We were still structured but guys were trying things, there was plenty of flair. It was Kiwis-style league, I guess."

Just like the game in Brisbane to open the tournament, the Kiwis tore the Kangaroos apart in the second half. Only courageous defence - and some poor New Zealand options - kept Australia in the game but the Kiwis determination to attack and not sit on their lead was admirable.

"Even when we went a try ahead, we kept playing football, we kept going at them," said Kearney. "If we had put the cue back in the rack, they might have come back at us."

They almost did, as the Australians threatened to snatch victory in the last few minutes.

"They got us in [2010] and we almost repaid them tonight," said Australian coach Tim Sheens, who wouldn't be drawn on the final call that ruled out a possible Kangaroos try on the whistle.