Hockey: Defender joins the '200 club'

Dean Couzins. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland-based defender Dean Couzins will run out for his 200th international when the Black Sticks play their second World Cup match against the much-touted Dutch here tonight.

Couzins, part of the key defensive pairing with double-centurion Blair Hopping, said joining the "200 club" had "crept up on me".

He joins teammates Phil Burrows and Ryan Archibald in becoming the eighth New Zealander to reach the milestone. Along the way he has played with the now retired Simon Towns, Umesh Parag and Bevin Hari and Black Sticks assistant coach Darren Smith.

In the national side since 2008, Couzins has been a quiet achiever. With Hayden Shaw often pushed forward to play in the half line, he has found himself paired with Hopping, who played his 211th international against Canada overnight, at the back.

"It is a combination we have worked on quite a bit," said Couzins as the Black Sticks joined the massive crowd to watch the opening-night Indian demolition of Pakistan.

"We complement each other with good understanding. He tends to play in front of me in a setting-up role whereas I take a more organisational role and work closer with goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex and the wing halves."

A lot of that work in the past couple of years has involved Brad and Hayden Shaw and while Couzins admits that their absence, with Simon Child's, has been hard to overcome, he feels there is the talent to do so.

"You find different qualities in different guys. For example, Andy Hayward has stepped up both in his defensive play and drag-flicking with Hayden out of the team."

Couzins said he did not feel the same pressure as in other recent tournaments.

"Sure, you want to do well at a World Cup, but it is not like a qualifying tournament where there is often just one chance at securing one place in a major event like the World Cup or Champions Trophy. In those tournaments there is a definite fear factor."

Dean Couzins:

* DOB: June 9, 1981, Christchurch
* International caps: 199
* International goals: 10
* Debut: v Malaysia, Hamilton 2001