Hockey: Fire still burns for Couzins

Black Sticks captain Dean Couzins is closing in on 300 test appearances and is showing no signs of slowing down ahead of next month's Oceania Cup in Taranaki. Photo / Getty Images.

Black Sticks captain Dean Couzins is closing in on 300 test appearances and is showing no signs of slowing down ahead of next month's Oceania Cup in Taranaki.

The Oceania Cup will see the Black Sticks men and women take on Australia, Samoa and Papua New Guinea from October 28-November 3 at TET MultiSports Centre in Stratford.

The last time a New Zealand side played in Taranaki was 1963, when Australia defeated the Kiwi men 3-2 at Pukekura Park.

Couzins, who is now just 14 games away from 300 test caps, said the competitive fire is still well and truly burning.

"I'm still very much enjoying my hockey - the competitive spirit and edge is still there, there's no doubt about it whether it's training or game time,'' Couzins said.

"I'm enjoying the environment with Colin [Batch], it's a really nice fresh and honest approach. There's a nice vibe around the team at the moment that's making it enjoyable, and for someone who's been around a while that's nice to have.''

Things have changed a great deal since the last time the Black Sticks played in Taranaki and they are looking for redemption through winning the 2013 Oceania Cup - which would also see them gain valuable world ranking points.

Couzins, 32, recently visited the Stratford venue and was hugely impressed with the effort the Taranaki region has put into the event.

"It's a pretty stunning location. I can imagine on a clear day with the mountain in the background it would be great to be out on the turf,'' Couzins said.

"I think what you find with smaller provinces who host events like this is that they really get the community behind it. You tend to have some quite vocal people in smaller towns, they get stuck in and don't hold back and I know they'll be right behind the New Zealand teams.

"There are lots of good people getting behind this event and that connection makes it really special for the guys.''

With both the Black Sticks men and women having already qualified for the 2014 Hockey World Cup, the world ranking points on offer for the Oceania Cup winner are enticing.

With the women ranked third in the world, points are extra important for the men who are currently fifth in the world on 1963 points. It's a competitive table, with just 45 points between the Black Sticks and Belgium in ninth spot.

"I know the New Zealand men are sitting in a nice spot at the moment but there are a lot of teams hot on our heels. It's very close in those 5-10 spots. If we could pick up the Oceania title it would make a massive difference to that and put some distance between us and the other teams.''

It's shaping up to be an enormous year in 2014 for Couzins and the Black Sticks, with the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Champions Challenge all on the menu.