Hockey: Aussie wallopings show work needed

New Zealand learned how much work lies ahead of them as they headed for Europe yesterday after back-to-back defeats by their opening Olympic opponents, Australia, in Cairns.

The three-game series with the world No 3 team ended in a 3-1 loss to Australia, after an encouraging 3-3 draw first-up, followed by a 7-1 walloping in the second international.

New Zealand fly to Barcelona today and are back on the park within hours of arriving to play world No 9 Spain on Wednesday morning (NZ time).

The New Zealanders were 2-0 down at halftime on Saturday, with goals from Bevan George and Jamie Dwyer. The hole got deeper when Nathan Eglington scored Australia's third goal before Bevan Hari replied seven minutes from the end.

"It was obvious they didn't want to concede as many goals as they did in the second test," said coach Kevin Towns.

He had been unimpressed with what he saw in the heavy second test loss and viewed the final game as a small improvement.

"We've still got a lot of work to do, but we've got the time to do it."

The series completed Australia's leadup to the Athens Olympics. They have had more than 30 games since Christmas. World No 11 New Zealand came into the series after a four-month layoff since the Olympic qualifying series in Madrid.

They have five more games to get their house in order before facing Australia again in their opening Games match in Athens.

Towns believes that will be enough time, provided they make the most of those games.

After Spain, they have 10 days' training before playing world No 8 Great Britain in Barcelona.

They fly to Athens on August 6 and have three tough games to round off their preparation in Athens, against Korea, Pakistan and Germany, respectively world No 4, 5 and 1, and all in the opposite pool to New Zealand in the Olympic competition.

Towns has his fingers crossed those players carrying niggling injury worries will be fully fit well by then. The biggest concern is midfielder Ryan Archibald's broken leg.

A scan tomorrow will decide whether the experienced Archibald will push on with an August 9-10 deadline or give up his spot in the Games squad of 16 to North Harbour's David Kosoof.

What's ahead

* The New Zealand men have five more games before their opening Athens match against Australia.

* On Wednesday they play Spain.

* Ten days of training then play Great Britain.

* From August 6: Matches against Korea, Pakistan and Germany.