By Sam Ackerman
This feels like the beginning of an elaborate trap.
The Kiwis were unable to score a solitary point for the first time in nine years and the Green and Golds had their first trans-Tasman test in almost two years in a 16-0 win in Newcastle.
This is usually when the gloating begins, right? Yet Australia's most patriotic commentator Phil Gould shifted his target to the Kangaroos.
"If this is the best the Kangaroos can produce, they're kidding themselves if they think they can win the World Cup [in 2017] given the talent missing from the Kiwis."
I almost fell off the couch.
We're so used to hearing Kiwi sporting teams run down when they're losing or even sometimes waved off as an anomaly when they win.
They were labelled brave while the Aussies were "professional but unimpressive".
I don't think I've ever heard a winning Australian team given this kind of treatment from the host broadcasters.
Is Gould right? Does this loss mean the Kiwis are in the box seat to win back their World Cup crown?
The list of players absent from this Kiwis side wouldn't be able to fit under one salary cap (even a Parramatta interpretation of it) -- and there's no doubt there is a ton of talent still at Stephen Kearney's disposal. They won't be sweating this loss.
In previous years, against a weakened New Zealand team like this, the Roos would have easily run in 30 points. But they showed plenty of resolve on defence and par a lapse in the 80th minute, they can be proud of that part of their game.
Jordan Kahu is a star. He would be a household name by now if injury hadn't blighted his career.
But the way he put his body on the line and single-handedly saved try after try was just more proof that Kahu needs a place in that backline, even at full strength.
But the 0 part of the 16-0 scoreline isn't good enough. Even without the attacking prowess usually at their disposal watching from couches on either side of the ditch, this team should not be held scoreless.
Shaun Johnson look frustrated and so many of his close range kicks saw him be the only real chaser. Johnson needed others to take some of that pressure off him, but he didn't get it.
The lack of a specialist hooker was a costly one. I can understand the logic that Kodi Nikorima was the best five-eighth option available but his greatest worth to the team is coming off the bench and making an impact from dummy half with tired forwards.
He's a game changer in that role -- it's been what he's most successful at for his club but never gets the chance to play there for his country. His spark on attack was missed.
If the plan wasn't to play Brad Takairangi in place of Shaun Kenny-Dowall, why bring him into camp midweek?
It would have been better to move Dallin Watene-Zelezniak into centre and call up a winger like Curtis Rona, Sam Perrett or Jordan Rapana as cover.
This wasn't a great game -- but the Kiwis lose nothing in defeat.
There is no psychological advantage for the Aussies when they next meet, but it should influence the Kiwis selection approach, and certainly ensure a better-balanced bench.
Newshub.
