New Kiwis coach David Kidwell admits he has a lot to learn following his side's comprehensive loss to Australia in his first Test match in charge.
Kiwis coach David Kidwell. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Kiwis leave for their Four Nations campaign on Wednesday and Kidwell admitted they will have to take the lessons from their 26-6 defeat with them as they seek to defend their crown.
Kidwell took over from Stephen Kearney less than a month ago and admitted one of his mistakes was not giving more game time to Dally M winner Jason Taumalolo.
"That is a harsh lesson for myself for the first time in the job," he said following the five-tries-to-one loss.
"I didn't purposefully leave him on the sidelines like that.
"I take responsibility for that."
The Kiwis were brave but bumbling in falling to another professional effort from the Kangaroos.
Their much vaunted forward pack was beaten up front, they struggled with last tackle options and made too many fundamental errors.
"We learnt some harsh lessons and I have addressed those with the boys," Kidwell said.
"You can't give a team like Australia that much ball and that much opportunity.
"I thought we got ourselves back in the game but we have to be more consistent than that.
"There were a couple of simple errors and we have to finish our sets better than that."
The Kiwis have plenty of work to do before they open their Four Nations campaign against England in Huddersfield on October 29.
"This is Test football and it is a test of yourself," Kidwell said.
"This is a wonderful bunch of boys. We just need to look at where we need to improve."
-AAP
