Stephen Kearney: We just weren't sharp enough

Elliott Whitehead of England goes over for a try during the match between England and New Zealand at the DW Stadium. Photo / Getty Images.

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney cut a disappointed figure after the narrow 20-14 loss to England today.

His shoulders were slightly slumped as he entered the press conference, his demeanor was of a man who had just witnessed a huge missed opportunity.

Bidding to become just the fourth Kiwis team in history to win a series in England, the New Zealand side failed to bring their A game when it really counted.

Though in time there will be some positives to be gleaned from this tour, at the moment it feels like a failure and that was certainly Kearney's verdict.

"I'm disappointed," said Kearney. "I didn't think we played our best game.

We could have won the series today but didn't play well enough."

The Kiwis had enough chances and possession to win two games but a combination of poor execution and staunch England defence meant the visitors were always behind on the scoreboard. That's difficult in any situation, but in wintry conditions and in front of one of the most parochial crowds in world league, it was always going to be an uphill struggle.

"[There was] not a great deal between us but didn't execute the way we should have, whether it was the last play or attacking raids on the English try line, we just weren't sharp enough," said Kearney.

"They executed their last play a bit better than us. They consistently had Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck] picking the ball up close to their try line and that built pressure on us."

The officials didn't always help the Kiwis. Both England tries in the second half were preceded by marginal penalty calls, which gifted the home side a repeat set. The first was a Tohu Harris high tackle - which was a 50-50 call - and the second, which played out right in front of the touch judge, a judgement that Jordan Kahu had illegally stripped possession, when it appeared more likely his opponent had lost the ball cold.

Crucial moments, but Kearney wasn't delving into the minutiae.

"I don't see it like that," said Kearney. "If we had played better, I'm sure we would have got the result. I didn't think we played well enough to deserve the good fortune."

He was also reluctant to comment on the influence of the referee, top Super League whistler Ben Thaler. Thaler had a fair game, but the Kiwis had looked more comfortable under Gerard Sutton last week.

"I don't think there has been any dramas," said Kearney about the refereeing.

"I'm not going to comment on that today because it will look like I am whinging..and I'm not. The referee today did a good job, the referee last week did a good job. It is what it is."

Kearney also refused to use the comparative youthfulness of his side - and absentees like Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran and Simon Mannering - as a reason for the near miss.

"Regardless of who is wearing the jumper we have a certain expectation and I don't think we reached that today," said Kearney. "Regardless of who is here and who is not, I don't think we played the way we should have today. [Sure], every tournament is a stepping stone to building a good base of players for the World Cup...but you still want to win."

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