''Eighty-six years, boy, that's a long time to wait between drinks. If you want international rugby league down there, you better show your support,'' Leitch, otherwise known as the Mad Butcher, said yesterday.
''It's an important game for your region because it's a rugby town.
''We want to see a decent crowd down there. It's a great stadium, it's got a roof on it, so let's stack it. The Butcher will be very happy if we can put up the ''sold out'' sign by Friday.''
The Kiwis made a perfect start to the Four Nations at the weekend, beating Australia 30-12 in Brisbane, while England edged Samoa 32-26.
If New Zealand can dispatch Samoa in Whangarei and England can beat Australia in Melbourne this weekend, the Kiwis will come to Dunedin with a spot in the final already clinched.
Leitch, who managed the Kiwis to glory in the 2005 Tri Nations, was excited for the Dunedin match against ''the Poms'' but was not looking too far ahead of this weekend's match.
''We don't know what's going to happen this weekend. Will the Poms beat Australia or will the Aussies come back and beat them 18-0?''We need to win against Samoa, and I would not put my life savings on that game. They are due to win one very soon and that [game against England in the weekend] would have to be the best I have seen them play.''
However, Leitch said the Kiwis were coming off one of their best performances in years, albeit against a wobbly Australian side.
He watched the game with a bunch of Australian greats, including Mal Meninga, and said most of them could not remember the Kangaroos dropping the ball as much as they did.
The Butcher will not arrive in Dunedin until next Friday, when he will take part in a league versus union debate at the Glenroy Auditorium.
Radio host Tony Veitch will referee the debate, while Leitch will be joined by former Kiwi and Warrior Tony Iro and rugby league international federation chairman Nigel Wood.
Former All Blacks Scott McLeod and John Timu will be joined by one other in the union team.
-by Robert Van Royen
