Fiji ihi too much for flat Kiwis

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 18: The Fijian team sing after winning the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Quarter Final match between New Zealand and Fiji at Westpac Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Im

Rugby league great Wairangi Koopu says New Zealand's elimination from the world cup shows how even the game has become at international level.

The Kiwis were beaten 4-2 by Fiji, after losing the final game of pool play to Tonga the week before.

That has put pressure on coach David Kidwell to step down.

Former Kiwi Koopu says the defence from both sides was extraordinary, but the Fijian's had the edge in spirit.

"That ihi that was running through the Fijian side was much like the Tongan side the week before. They were running on emotion and passion, trying to make history. They just wanted it more. As disappointed as I was at how our boys performed, I still admire how the world cup competition has become a lot more even on the playing fields and it's not just Aotearoa and Australia in the final," he says.

Wairangi Koopu says David Kidwell has done a lot of good things with the team, but he wouldn't be surprised if he quits.

WAIRANGI KOOPU INTERVIEW

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