Hockey: Black Sticks reflect on learning curve

Kate Saunders pushes the ball during the test against China last week. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The New Zealand women's hockey team's results against world No 2 Argentina and fourth-ranked China are being put into perspective at this week's Champions Trophy tournament in Australia.

While still rankled by the Black Sticks' none-from-five showing against two of the best teams in the world, coach Mark Hager, back in his homeland to observe the Sydney tournament, is drawing a line on his team's performances in the home series.

Argentina won their first two games - odd goal victories over China and the hosts - while China followed that opening draw with a 1-0 loss to world No 1 Holland and drew their third match 2-2 with fifth-ranked Australia.

Hager said he felt his team had made some progress in the two matches against the Chinese after being disappointing at times against Argentina.

"Seeing how China goes in the Champions Trophy will give us a fair indication of where we stand," said Hager. "When I get back I will be ready to name 20 players to prepare for the Oceania Cup. As selectors we sat down after the tests against Argentina and China and pretty quickly agreed on 15 or 16 names which included some of the 10 players who made their full international debuts."

While he admitted it had been the senior players led by Stacey Carr and other 2008 Olympians who had shown out, some of the newcomers too had contributed sufficiently to warrant further consideration. Hager said the squad will come from the players used in these matches, effectively closing the door on a return by former international Lizzy Igasan.

"If she can't give us a 100 per cent commitment she will not be considered at all this year," said Hager. "Beyond that it is up to her."

Hager said playing against top teams en route to the Champions Trophy - contested this year by six of the top eight countries on the FIH ranking list - had been an eye-opener for many of his players.

"They quickly became aware of the skill level they have to get to," he said. "It was a big ask but it was an opportunity we couldn't turn down. Until I see all the results here [at the Champions Trophy] I will not be able to tell whether we are in fact better than our current ranking of 11.

"Against Argentina we probably tried to play too much attacking hockey and got exposed by the speed of the game," said Hager. "All the players at times had their ups and downs."

He said the results had highlighted the gap between his team and the top nations but he did counter that by saying he had never put out the same team twice and has yet to play his "top 18".

"To beat Australia [at the Oceania Cup] our defensive structures will have to be tighter, our penalty corner defence and play all over the pitch has to be ruthless and our attack has to put pressure on them. While they were outclassed at times, we have to remember we were up against players who have played 100, 150 or even 200 internationals and play against top six teams all the time."

The Oceania Cup, in Invercargill, will be played from August 24-30.