League: This time Kiwis can crack it

Benji Marshall has hit form at the right time for the Kiwis. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand have won the Anzac test only once - in 1998 - and never in Australia. The past six years have seen Australia win by an average score of 38-9. But this year is different, surely? Never before have the Kiwis gone into the match as world champions. That will matter to them, and to an Australian side looking for redemption. Michael Brown talks to former Kiwis fullback Richie Barnett about where the game will be won and lost.

Belief

It's questionable whether Kiwi sides in the past really believed they could beat Australia.

New Zealand have a history of beating Australia about once in every five tests and this is usually at the end of a campaign when they have been together for some time.

Often this doubt is a consequence of the fact the Kiwis haven't been able to assemble their best side, largely because of the difficulty of getting players back from the UK and from NRL clubs reluctant to release players.

It's an excuse, but an all too convenient one.

"Psychologically there has always been doubt because people blow up how good the Aussies are and the Kiwi boys start to believe it," Barnett says. "After the World Cup and what they have achieved over the last few Tri Nations, that's changed."

Play the full 80 minutes

The Kiwis have often looked good for patches in Anzac tests but they have rarely been able to put a complete performance together.

Last year the game was virtually gone when they trailed 22-0 at halftime.

They recovered to win the second half 12-6 but it was little consolation.

In 2007, the Kiwis trailed by only 6-0 at the break but went on to lose 30-6. Likewise in 2006, it was 14-6 at halftime but 50-12 by the end. In 2004 it was 11-10 at halftime but blew out to 37-10 by fulltime.

"This often comes down to preparation and the preparation for Anzac tests is often zilch because guys were coming in late from the UK," Barnett says. "They would get there on a Wednesday for a Friday match, meaning they had one day together. That's garbage and should never happen in this game. You need at least five days together.

"There won't be any players from the UK this time so it should be better. There won't be many changes from the World Cup side and they all know the coach and the system."

The Kiwis need to be in the match at halftime, like they were for last year's World Cup final (16-12), and put Australia under pressure. They don't seem to like that.

Coaches

It's something of a misnomer to suggest new Australian coach Tim Sheens is the new kid on the block.

The Wests Tigers boss has been handed the reins for the first time, taking over from Ricky Stuart, but he brings an incredible coaching record with him.

Not only is he the first man to coach more than 500 first-grade games, but he has also won four premierships (Canberra 1989,'90 and '94 and Wests Tigers 2005) and three times been named Dally M Coach of the Year.

He is even-tempered, a departure from the hot-headedness of Stuart who quit the post after manhandling referee Ashley Klein the morning after the World Cup final.

He will bring calm and professionalism to the job and he will also arrive without the baggage of the World Cup encumbering him.

In contrast, Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney will be without Supercoach Wayne Bennett by his side.

Kearney is a highly promising and respected, young coach but just having Bennett around instilled confidence in the camp. It's hoped the players don't notice Bennett's absence too much.

"With one-off tests, there's not a lot of room for coaching," Barnett says. "It's just about getting the players in the right head space.

"The Aussies have no problem with that because key players have played together so often in tests and State of Origin matches so they can slot into the system straight away. Tim Sheens won't change much and most coaches have similar game plans these days anyway."

Halves

Few games go by without being influenced greatly by the halves. Both sides are likely to stick with their incumbents - Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston for the Kangaroos and Benji Marshall and Nathan Fien for the Kiwis - and it will provide a mouth-watering contest.

"It's exciting," Barnett says. "Benji has come into some really good form and with him there it just adds a different flavour. He's capable of extraordinary things but it's about how others react to him - sometimes he doesn't know what he's going to do.

"He can create something from nothing but it's up to the forwards to get the ball in the right area and

I have heaps of confidence in our forward pack. Benji just needs to be mindful that he doesn't overplay things."

Conclusion

"I really think they can do it," Barnett says optimistically. "This time is different. None of the players are coming from England, they have been together for sometime and it's the same coach and same ideas. It all comes down to self-belief. That's the major thing and I think there is genuine self-belief in this side now."

THE SORRY TALE:

2008 Australia beat New Zealand 28-12, Sydney
2007 Australia beat New Zealand 30-6, Brisbane
2006 Australia beat New Zealand 50-12, Brisbane
2005 Australia beat New Zealand 32-16, Brisbane
2004 Australia beat New Zealand 37-10, Newcastle
2000 Australia beat New Zealand 52-0, Sydney
1999 Australia beat New Zealand 20-14, Sydney
1998 New Zealand beat Australia 22-16, North Harbour Stadium
1997 Australia (Super League) beat New Zealand 34-22, Sydney