Hockey: Covering all the options

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Coach Ian Rutledge has not shied from the big calls in naming his team for next week's international tri-series in Gifu, Japan.

The Black Sticks will play Japan and Korea in a three-nation tournament - preceded on Sunday by a one-off friendly with the hosts - as part of the build-up to the Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland in March.

Rutledge has named six debutantes in his 18-strong squad, including 17-year Auckland midfielder Frances Kreft, who comes into the side after some impressive performances with the New Zealand under-18 team against Australia.

Three other newcomers, 19-year-old Canterbury inside-forward Stacey Carr, 23-year-old North Harbour striker Connie Igasan (who joins younger sister Lizzy in the team) and 23-year-old Wellington defender Sheree Phillips have won their places following good showings for the national academy side on their recent Australia tour.

Twenty-two-year-old Wellington goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit, is already a member of the enlarged national squad and has the chance to impress as the back-up to veteran Helen Clarke, who is closing in on her 150th international.

The other new cap is Priya Bhikha, 22, who joins the squad to replace the injured Caryn Paewai.

She is thought to be the first Indian woman to make the New Zealand side.

Rutledge has made it clear that recent internationals including Jaimee Provan, Amanda Christie and Paula Enoka, while not part of this tour, remain in consideration.

"Their names will be back in the ring after the tri-nations," Rutledge said.

"We are taking this opportunity to look at some new players and see how they perform at this level.

"When we come around to naming the Olympic squad we want to be sure there are no doubts and that we have had the chance to compare players after watching them playing at the same [international] level," Rutledge said. "This tournament is about giving the fringe players their opportunity."

The series in Japan will be a good yardstick for Rutledge and his side.

In two matches against Japan at the Champions Challenge in Italy in July, New Zealand lost their round-robin match and third-place playoff 2-1.

Last November, in a tri-series here, the sides drew 1-1.

In their last clash with Korea, at last November's World Cup in Perth, New Zealand went down 3-0. Korea finished sixth and New Zealand 11th in the 16-team tournament.

In a four-test series in 2001, New Zealand and Korea won two each, New Zealand squaring the series with a 5-0 win in the last clash.

Rutledge said that while results were always important, the tri-nations was not a ranking tournament but more a chance to refine performance and tactics since he took over from Jan Borren.

"Japan and Korea will be in our group at the Olympic qualifying tournament so we must make the most of this opportunity."

Match schedule

Sunday: NZ v Japan (friendly).

Tri-series: Tuesday: NZ v Korea.

Wednesday: NZ v Japan.

Thursday: Japan v Korea.

Friday: NZ v Korea.

September 13: NZ v Japan.

September 14: Japan v Korea.

Recent results involving New Zealand, Korea and Japan. - 2000: Home series, NZ 1 Japan 0, NZ 3 Japan 1, NZ 2 Japan 1, NZ 2 Japan 1. Olympic qualifier, England: NZ 0 Japan 4.

2001: Home series, NZ 3 Korea 2, NZ 1 Korea 2, NZ 1 Korea 3, NZ 5 Korea 0.

2002: Tri-series, North Harbour, NZ 1 Japan 1. World Cup, Perth, NZ 0 Korea 3.

2003: Champions Challenge, Italy: NZ 1 Japan 2; playoff 3rd/4th: NZ 1 Japan 2.

New Zealand team

Goalkeepers: Helen Clarke (Auckland) 32 years, 144 caps. Beth Jurgeleit (Wellington) 22, 0.

Defenders: Lizzy Igasan (North Harbour) 20, 33, Priya Bhikha (Wellington) 22, 0, Sheree Phillips (Wellington) 23 0, Diana Weavers (Canterbury) 28, 121.

Midfield: Stacey Carr (Canterbury) 19, 0, Frances Kreft (Auckland) 17, 0, Tara Drysdale (Manawatu) 24, 38, Jo Galletly (Canterbury) 24, 5, Meredith Orr (Auckland) 25, 28, Suzie Pearce (Wellington) 28, 177, Melody Rowe (Manawatu) 20, 12, Rachel Sutherland (Manawatu) 26, 70.

Strikers: Piki Hamahona (Hawkes Bay) 21, 21, Connie Igasan (North Harbour) 23, 0, Niniwa Roberts-Lang (Wellington) 27, 54, Kayla Sharland (Manawatu) 17, 12.