Hockey: Black Sticks to take it to Australia

Blair Hopping of New Zealand misses a goal attempt. Photo / Getty Images

There are few tougher assignments in world hockey than to beat Australia at a top-level tournament but it's exactly what the Black Sticks need to do tomorrow (Sat) if they are to have any chance of making Sunday's Champions Trophy final against the same opponent.

Most would have been satisfied prior to the Champions Trophy with a top-four finish at the prestigious tournament, including the players themselves, but there's a realisation they can achieve something special. New Zealand have rarely occupied a place at the top table in a world event - this is the first time they have made it through to the last four - so it's an opportunity that needs to be taken advantage of.

The Black Sticks universally agree they can't be passive against the world champions and No 1-ranked side tomorrow. They were passive against Spain last night when they led 2-1 and it cost them dearly. They lost 3-2.

Of course, Spain could make the possibility of qualifying for the final academic if they topple the Netherlands in their match tomorrow - it takes place immediately before New Zealand's - but the Black Sticks have to believe they will still be in with a chance.

They will also approach that match knowing they have beaten Australia recently. They beat the Hockeyroos 3-0 in the opening match of the recent Oceania championships and drew the second game, before Australia mauled them 6-1 in the final match to retain the trans Tasman trophy.

"We learned we need to be positive when we play them," New Zealand captain Dean Couzins explained, "to back our guys that we can take them on one-on-one and play just as well as them if we are positive.

"The big learning from that series was that there's no point us sitting and waiting for them to come at us. Let's have a go. If we are smart about it, we will go forward as quickly as we can, take our chances and [approach the game with a] why not-type mentality rather than sitting and waiting and being passive."

Australia have said they don't think they are playing well at the Champions Trophy yet but they have still won every match and they beat a strong Dutch side 4-2 on Thursday. They were pushed by Spain in their opening game of the tournament, trailing 2-1 at halftime before scoring a late winner in a 3-2 victory, but they know how to win hockey games.

They certainly won't want to be upstaged by Little Brother, and have promised they will field their strongest lineup tomorrow and have the capacity to run up big scores against teams. At last year's Champions Trophy, they beat New Zealand 9-1 in their opening match of the tournament (it equalled the record for the worst defeat at a Champions Trophy tournament) and beat Pakistan 6-1 earlier in the week.

"They are the No 1 side in the world for a good reason," Black Sticks' midfielder Ryan Archibald said. "To beat them, we're going to have to play really well. We're going to have to be on top of our game and probably have a bit of luck along the way. We're under no illusions there, they're a very, very good side and we'll have to play extremely well."

But the Black Sticks have also been improving and they are in a good place with fewer than nine months to go until the London Olympics.

"We have high expectations and we are not quite there yet in terms of winning medals but I think we are on the right track," Archibald said after the defeat to Spain. "Just looking around, the guys are gutted and disappointed in the way they played. That's a good thing."