Hockey: Late changes for Black Sticks

Ella Gunson in action for the Black Sticks. Photo / John Stone

Black Sticks coach Mark Hager has been forced to make late changes to the his team ahead of their internationals against Korea and Japan this weekend at Auckland Grammar.

Aniwaka Roberts and Rosie Keddell have withdrawn due to injury and Sophie Cocks is out with illness. Ella Gunson and Olivia Merry have earned the call to play against Korea on Saturday, with one further replacement player still to be named, while Jordan Grant replaces Cocks against Japan on Sunday.

Hager has also revealed the two New Zealand A teams which will play against Korea in the curtain raiser on Sunday and against Japan on Monday.

Charlotte Harrison, who has played 183 international tests, has been named in both sides and joins a young group of players from the development squad and Junior Black Sticks teams.

"Charlotte has shown an eagerness to return to international hockey and so we wanted to give selectors the opportunity to review her again and see where she's at," Hager said.

"These tests provide a great opportunity for the next group of players to get some game time against two teams that play quite a different style of hockey. We have deliberately selected a different team for each of the games so we can expose more players."

After these games the Black Sticks head to Gisborne where they play against Argentina on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will be the first time international hockey has played in the Gisborne, with a new turf recently being laid.