The awesome talent-laden Kangaroos should win their tenth rugby league World Cup on Saturday.

But that statement is a hollow one, as these Australians are dominant unlike any other team in sport. The leading teams in other codes around the world can and are beaten – but it is an upset if this happens to the Kangaroos.

Since the year 2000, they have won 33 Tests as well as seven non-Test matches and have lost but six games. They have not lost two in succession since 1978 and their last Test defeat was against Great Britain in November, 2006.

Not since 1972 has another nation taken the trophy that effectively anoints the world’s premier rugby league side.  In 12 World Cups, the Kangaroos have won the title nine times – the last six championships consecutively.

So far in this World Cup, the Australians have scored 180 points and conceded just 14 in four games – two of them against the second and third ranked teams in the world.  And when it comes to playing personnel, they are without peer. 

The game’s international federation have just announced their Player of the Year awards.  Of the ten positions available, the Australians took seven. And their team against Fiji, their most recent opponents, boasted a staggering 2,585 professional games compared to the Fijians’ 343.

However, as impressive as these statistics are, it just further dilutes the quality of a “World Cup” when the tournament favourites play a minnow nation and defeat them 52-0. But let us leave this point, hope for a competitive final - and pretend that this is a real World Cup in which there is no guarantee of the final result or champions.

In saying this, we do have in New Zealand the only team realistically with the arsenal and firepower to be able to defeat the uncompromising juggernaut that is the Kangaroos.  But for this to happen, the Kiwis will need to execute certain factors to not only upset the champions and win their first World Cup – but to give a struggling tournament credibility.

The most obvious thing, of course, is for the Kangaroos to have an off game. But this will not happen with so many big-game players, game breakers and superstars of the modern game involved.

So New Zealand will need to perform the following acts:

1. Ignore the reputations. As many underdog coaches have uttered, “they are just men”.  Irrespective of what’s behind them on the scoreboard, the moment the New Zealand team hang their heads, the game is over and a thrashing will be dished out.

2. Come up AGGRESSIVELY as a defensive line. In the first game against Australia the Kiwis made the mistake of coming up but then hanging off their marker. With so many natural ball players in the Australian side, they must not be given time. The Kangaroos win games with brilliance, but such virtuosity cannot be performed if a New Zealand forward smashes them.

3. Play the right playmakers. Benji Marshall is coming into good form at the right time, but he needs appropriate ball-playing support. Thomas Leuluai does not provide the support that Marshall needs, whereas players such as Nathan Fien or Issac Luke are aggressive ball players who keep the opposition guessing. The Kangaroos will not be beaten by a one-trick pony, so New Zealand must have options either side of the ruck.

4. Win the game over 80 minutes, not one moment. The Kiwis and Marshall, in particular, are guilty of over-forcing plays and trying to score tries in one move. Each possession yields five tackles – they must each be used tactically to win the game and score points.  If points are not an option, then think about the next set. One play will not beat Australia, but continued pressure might.

5. Kick away from their back three. Billy Slater was named the world’s best player and rightfully so. New Zeal and must keep the ball away from their danger threequarters and counter-attacking options, or they will quite simply concede too much territory and too many points.

6. Keep talking and keep positive. Against Australia, New Zealand will concede points and tries – they are just too good a team, but the players must keep talking to each other and keep the faith. The Kiwis are not like the Kangaroos; they cannot win the game with individuals, but play as a team and they are a chance.

If this is done, the Kiwis may be able to defy the mighty odds against them. But I still thin the Kangaroos will likely win by at least 10.