Aussies want revenge - Civoniceva

Civoniceva is focused on revenge in Saturday's final

Australia v New Zealand
Saturday, 25 November
Aussie Stadium
Kick-off: 0900 GMT

Australia prop Petero Civoniceva admits his side will be gunning for revenge when they line up against New Zealand in the Tri-Nations final on Saturday.

The Kiwis beat the Kangaroos 24-0 in last year's final to lift the trophy for the first time and send Australia to a first series defeat in 27 years.

And the 30-year-old said: "The boys are looking forward to getting it going.

"We've put a lot of hard work in and hopefully we can get the job done and get some revenge for last year."

Civoniceva said that the astonishing defeat had been his inspiration for this campaign.

"It certainly carried me throughout the pre-season," he said.

"It was the longest off-season that I've had, mainly because of that disappointment, and now this is our chance - one last 80 minutes - to finally put those bad memories aside."

But Australia captain Darren Lockyer was keen to play down talk of revenge.

We want to have aggression, but discipline is vital Australia captain Darren Lockyer

"I wouldn't say we owe them one," he said.

"We just want to finish the year on a good note because it makes the off-season a lot easier to take."

Lockyer said discipline would be the key to success at the Aussie Stadium.

"Over this tournament, there's been more passion shown by all three nations and it's been good to see," he said.

"We want to have aggression, there's no doubting that, but discipline is vital. We can't go in there and expect to give away cheap penalties - it just puts you on the back foot.

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"Our penalty count has been pretty poor the whole series.

"It's an attitude thing with the players, and guys that may have been penalised repeatedly throughout the series need to make sure they're not doing the things they have been."

Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Ruben Wiki said his team had taken strength from the problems they have had to deal with during the Series.

The Kiwis were docked two points for fielding an ineligible player, but bounced back to reach the final.

It looks like this team won't ever play together again, so you've got to take your opportunities when you can New Zealand's David Kidwell

"We've had a lot of setbacks but as a unit, the management and the team, we've stuck together pretty strong and defied the odds," he said.

"Australia have been on top for a long time. We're always going head to head with the Aussies and they've always been dominate, but hopefully we can get this one too."

However, New Zealand forward David Kidwell insists some of the Kiwi team could be keen to use the final as the perfect way to sign off their careers.

Half-back Stacey Jones has revealed that Saturday's Test match will "probably be his last", while there has been much speculation that 54-Test captain Ruben Wiki is also considering retirement.

And Kidwell said: "It looks like this team won't ever play together again, so you've got to take your opportunities when you can.

"If that does happen, then we'd like the outgoing guys, whoever they may be, to go out on a winning note because they're legends in our game."

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Australia: Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate, Mark Gasnier, Justin Hodges, Greg Inglis, Darren Lockyer (capt), Johnathan Thurston, Willie Mason, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Andrew Ryan, Nathan Hindmarsh, Luke O'Donnell.
Replacements: Shaun Berrigan, Anthony Tupou, Mark O'Meley, Brent Kite.

New Zealand: Brent Webb, Shontayne Hape, Iosia Soliola, Steve Matai, Manu Vatuvei, Nigel Vagana, Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki (capt), Dene Halatau, Roy Asotasi, David Kidwell, Simon Mannering, David Fa'alogo.
Replacements: Motu Tony, Nathan Cayless, Adam Blair, Frank Pritchard.