Captains run ahead of the second test against England at Anfield, Liverpool. Photo / Photosport
Captains run ahead of the second test against England at Anfield, Liverpool. Photo / Photosport
The Kiwis need to take the lessons of history, if they hope to prevail on Sunday (Monday morning NZT) against England.
They walked off the field last week in Hull not just beaten, but bemused, wondering how the first test, which they had dominated for long periods, had slipped away from them.
In the end it was a combination of factors, and a feeling that has become all too familiar to previous Kiwis teams.
The best example was in 1985, when the Graham Lowe coached side, fresh off an 18-0 victory over the Kangaroos, were denied a series win in England.
In a brutal decider in Wigan, three Lee Crooks penalties – two of them prompted by an eager local linesman that sprinted onto the field to alert the referee – meant the third test ended 6-6.
The 1980 and 2002 teams also shared their three test series' while the 1993 and 2007 tourists were swept 3-0.
It's an unforgiving place to tour, where reputations harvested across an NRL season mean little. The frosty November conditions in the north of England and the compact in goals and tight fields also require adjustment.
And then there is the officiating. Interpretations are always different in the northern hemisphere, but local whistler Robert Hicks had a particularly puzzling match last week, while video referee Ben Thaler was overly patriotic to the English cause.
That should be negated slightly at Anfield, as NRL referee Gerard Sutton as been appointed to the match, though Thaler has curiously been retained in his position.
But whatever happens, the Kiwis have to do a better job of responding to adversity.
"There are always little things that go against you," said former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott. "You won't get the 50-50 calls over there but you need to hang in the fight. There's a reason why in 110 years we have only won three series over there...it's a bloody tough place to go."
Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott. Photosport
Endacott was the last Kiwis coach to taste success in England, at the helm for a 2-0 series win in 1998 (the third match was drawn).
"I was talking to some of the players at the Kiwis reunion [before the tour]," said Endacott. But until you have been there, it's hard to understand, especially for the young ones."
Endacott was disappointed with the way discipline "slipped away" last week, compounding some tough calls, but remains confident New Zealand can make history over the next nine days.
"I'm expecting them to be a lot better [on Monday] and they have still got a chance of winning the series," said Endacott. "They've certainly got the firepower. The markers and the 'A' and 'B' defenders need to work harder and with better finishes to their sets and controlled second phase play I'm confident they can do well."
Kiwis coach Michael Maguire will delay naming his lineup until 90 minutes before kickoff – mimicking the 'ducks and drakes' approach employed by English counterpart Wayne Bennett last week.
There won't be any changes to the backline, but Adam Blair is expected to return to the forwards mix, probably in place of Joseph Tapine.
