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Rugby League

Battered Kiwis hold crisis talks

06/11/2007

The touring New Zealand team have held crisis talks following their second consecutive defeat in the three-match Test series against Great Britain.

The Lions dominated the Kiwis from start to finish as they ran in eight tries and held the visitors scoreless at Hull's KC Stadium on Saturday to establish an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

In the first match at Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium two weeks ago, the hosts also outlasted the New Zealanders and earned a hard-fought 20-14 victory.

And after their second defeat in seven days, head coach Gary Kemble revealed the players had taken it upon themselves to have 'clear the air' talks about what had gone wrong in the two matches so far.

"The players have had a good sit down and held a thinktank between them all," he said.

"It was something they wanted to do and they came back with the feedback to us."

Kemble said the meeting, which was chaired by a number of the senior players including captain Roy Asotasi, had been productive.

"Roy and the core players have put their full backing to the coaching and management team," he said.

"We're a close-knit unit. We have to stay tight and that's what they want to do.

"They let themselves down, they know that. They have put the blame on themselves, no one else. They just thought that their attitude wasn't good out on the field.

"Everything leading up to it as far as they were concerned was good, so they've addressed that and we have to work to make sure they step up."

The 44-0 defeat at the weekend was the Kiwis' worst loss since a 58-0 humiliation at the hands of Australia earlier this year, and they will be looking to salvage some pride in the final game of the series at Wigan's JJB Stadium on Saturday.