League: Results improve as Kiwis form genuine bond

Warriors player Sam Tomkins in action. Photo / NZH

I often hear players talk about the special bond or spirit within a team but it's mostly those who don't talk about it who have it.

Multiple Kiwis teams of the past have spoken at length about the 'brotherhood' or 'bond' in the team without it really existing.

The 2013 World Cup squad talked about it but they were being disingenuous. That campaign was flawed from the moment the selectors dropped Tohu Harris in favour of Sonny Bill Williams after Sonny Bill changed his mind after the Cup squad had been announced.

There were a number of players in the squad who disagreed with that move and it created divisions and the selectors later admitted they made a mistake. It was understandable they would want to include a player of Williams' quality but it proved counter-productive.

The sleeping pills and energy drinks debacle was talked up as a main reason for not winning the last World Cup but that was a by-product of team culture.

That's been one of the areas of big improvement within the Kiwis in the past 18 months and is reflected in their results.

Coach Stephen Kearney and the selectors knew things needed to change and have been strong about the type of player they pick - and not pick. A similar culture change needs to happen at the Warriors, who have also talked about the brotherhood at the club.

I don't doubt this Kiwis squad have a special bond, despite the absence of some key players through injury, and it should help them win the series against England.

It's amazing what team spirit can do. I look back fondly on the Kiwis of 1983-85 under coach Graham Lowe and the bond we established that still exists today.

A good environment means you don't have to worry about other players because you know they will do whatever they can to succeed. There's an incredible unity and it often goes unspoken.

We achieved some good success in that era, although not as much as we should have, but things started to unravel in 1986 as players became too comfortable and saw the tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea more as a holiday and others were distracted by personal issues.

Selfishness and conflict can come to the fore and it affects results.

The Kiwis at the 2013 World cup performed well enough, particularly in the semifinal win over England, but didn't show up when they really needed to and were blown away in the final. It wasn't a surprise when off-fields issues started to emerge.

I said last week I think the Kiwis will beat England 2-1 in this series and I can see them going up 2-0. They are going to need all that team spirit, because of the players missing and their inexperienced halves combination, and the fact England will come at them very hard.

Winning in England is difficult, especially up north, where the crowds can be intimidating and the home team will be very aggressive.

England have talked about the Kiwis forwards being the "toughest" around but it's all talk because they have the likes of the Burgess brothers, James Graham and James Roby in their ranks. It's going to be a great series and, thankfully, people will notice now the Rugby World Cup is over.