Hockey: Black Sticks expecting no let-up from Australians

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand women's hockey coach Ian Rutledge is expecting nothing less than an all-out effort from Australia in today's test in Whangarei.

With the three-match Oceania Olympic qualifier already wrapped up, there was a feeling the Australians might ease back. Rutledge is having none of that.

"They will take it seriously," he said after the Black Sticks had trained at the Rosvall ITM Hockey Centre yesterday. "Good teams don't slacken off."

Australia have stretched their winning streak, dating back to July 2000 when they lost 3-0 at a three-nations tournament in Sydney, to 13 against New Zealand.

In five of those losses, including the first two of the current series, New Zealand have not scored. Today's match, Rutledge feels, is the chance to turn that corner.

"There was good intensity throughout Thursday night's game," said Rutledge. "It was one of the best matches I have seen, a ding-dong battle in both attack and defence.

"We have been together for just four weeks but I can see an improvement."

He will not let sentiment play a part in the selection of his 16 players from the 18-strong squad for this afternoon's match.

There were suggestions yesterday that Lizzy Igasan might play after missing the game at Lloyd Elsmore Park after her mother's sudden death.

Rutledge said last night that it was unlikely Igasan would play but he was considering giving another Northland player, midfielder Jan Rowsell, some action for the first time in the series.

"But it will be purely on merit," said Rutledge. "You are talking about international sport."

In the same vein, Rutledge is looking ahead only as far as today's game.

"We will get this out of the way before thinking about Italy."

The Black Sticks are set to play in the six-team Champions Challenge in Italy in July.

"The Oceania matches were the most important,"he said. "We always saw the Champions Challenge as part of the development towards next year.

"When we name the team for Italy we may look at the other players in our 24-strong extended squad or even further."

Australia, too, are rebuilding but have come here with only six players who have played fewer than 30 internationals.

In going toe-to-toe with them for much of Thursday's match, New Zealand showed that the once-gaping chasm might be closing.

Today's televised clash will hopefully give further evidence of that.

* TV: Live on TVOne, 3pm.