Hockey: Rivals' big win not intimidating

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand coach Craig Hobbs is not reading too much into Argentina's runaway 5-0 win over Malaysia at hockey's junior World Cup in Hobart.

New Zealand need to beat Argentina in the last first-round pool match this afternoon, but Hobbs prefers instead to look at his team's improved showing against Germany when assessing chances for the match.

"The Malaysians weren't interested in their game with Argentina," Hobbs said.

"After their [3-2] loss to us, the Malaysians had all kinds of trouble."

Their manager was handed a formal complaint after refusing to sign the match sheet and their captain, and best player, Boon Huat Chua, copped a one-match ban after manhandling officials.

Without him, and with their tournament virtually over, they did not show much against Argentina.

Hobbs said the New Zealanders had learned a lot from watching Argentina play and had worked on a game plan for a match they must win to make the top eight - and have any chance of reaching the final.

Captain Ryan Archibald, who missed the 2-1 loss to Germany because of a calf injury, spent several hours in a decompression chamber yesterday and is expected to be fit, as is Phil Burrows, who is recovering from a leg injury.

A win over Argentina would earn New Zealand a first-up game in post-section play against either India or Spain tomorrow afternoon.