Hockey: Final two clashes against India 'must-win', says Hager

Mark Hager. Photo / Dean Purcell

With two draws and a loss behind them in series, NZ can't afford to get it wrong this weekend

Black Sticks' coach Mark Hager is treating the last two matches of the five-test series with India as a must-win semifinal and final as his team try to wipe out the 1-0 lead held by the visitors after the 2-2 third-test draw in Napier on Wednesday night.

"It all comes down to winning these last two matches if we want to win the series," said Hager. "It was a much better performance in Napier but again we failed to finish the chances we created."

Their cause was not helped by their failure to claim one penalty corner in the match - something Hager hinted was the result of a perplexing display by the Indian umpire. The Indians won four penalty corners and scored from one as they took an early 2-0 lead in playing towards the end Indian umpire was officiating at.

"We did not start very well and gave them too many opportunities in the first 10 or so minutes. After that I felt we dominated the game but we did not get anything [decisions] going our way.

"It was a definite step up from what we had done in the first two tests. We were more clinical and held on to a lot more ball - something we did not do in Palmerston North," said Hager. "In looking at the statistics in one of those tests, we had 38 one- or two-pass moves and turned the ball over 35 times. You are not going to win much by doing that."

The series is being keenly contested not only in lining up against the world's 13th ranked nation - New Zealand is at nine - but among the Kiwi players themselves as they battle to convince Hager and the other selectors they are worthy of a place in the team to go to the Champions Trophy.

"If you allow that we have the five players in Europe to come back in along with Ella Gunson and Stacey Carr - if they recover from their injuries - then there are probably eight players playing for four spots ... That certainly adds an edge."

Hager, who has taken an iron-fisted approach in the almost 18 months he has been in charge, again said the players must be more "ruthless" in their play.

"There were patches of really good play in Napier. They are learning but you can't always be playing catch-up and expect to win. They are showing signs of doing better but are still not consistent enough.

"That showed they still need to practice playing under more pressure and they need to be technically better."

Hager was heartened by the goal-scoring efforts of Stacey Brannigan, who scored both goals after being pushed forward to an attacking role in the absence of Samantha Charlton who has a mouth infection.

"Stacey ... certainly did well."

While he is aware that former international Lizzy Horlock (nee Igasan) is playing and coaching at Hibiscus Dairy Flat in the North Harbour competition, Hager said he had not talked to her about her future plans.

"Good on her for what she is doing but we haven't talked at all so far."

MATCH DETAILS
NZ Women v India.
* Wellington.
* Today, 4th test 1pm.
* Tomorrow, 5th test 2.45pm (live SS1).
* India lead series 1-0 (two drawn).