Hockey: NZ pay the penalty for poor defence

Anita Punt and the Black Sticks are keen to improve on their 6-4 loss to Korea. Photo / Lucho Vidales

It's not yet crisis time but Black Sticks coach Mark Hager is worried his team has taken a "big step backwards" after two heavy losses in the Four Nations challenge in Cordoba, Argentina.

New Zealand face Great Britain this morning (9am NZT), down on confidence and cohesion after crashing to Argentina 7-3 on Thursday, followed by a 6-4 defeat to South Korea on Friday.

The Champions Trophy is still a week away but their form, especially defensively, has been far from encouraging.

"We had a great year [in 2011] but at the moment it feels like other teams have moved on and we have plateaued a bit," Hager told the Herald on Sunday. "It has certainly been a huge wake up call and, to their credit, the girls have been quite harsh on themselves. They are hurting, too."

The Blacks Sticks finished third at the 2011 Champions Trophy and though they are currently ranked sixth in the world, are targeting another top four finish in Rosario.

The Four Nations challenge was always a build-up and it was understood the team would need a few games to find their feet - but improvement is now demanded.

"There is a lack of cohesion and understanding," says Hager. "We are scoring goals which is a plus but defensively we have capitulated in both second halves. It is disappointing and well below the standards we have set for ourselves."

There are some mitigating factors - the national team have not turned out together since last October, most players have had little other hockey in the intervening period and Hager shuffled his players in a semi-rotation policy in the opening games. But Hager is reluctant to offer excuses.

"Plain and simple, we have been poor on defence: poor basic skills, inability to tackle and lack of patience which has led to diving in and conceding needless penalty corners," says Hager.

New Zealand coughed up four goals from five penalty corners against Argentina and three from eight versus the Koreans.

"Individually we are not stepping up to the mark or sticking to our structures and teams are exploiting us," says captain Kayla Sharland. "It has been pretty frustrating, as we have been scoring enough goals to win. We are known as an attacking side but we still have to get our defence right. "

Like Hager, Sharland identifies penalty corner defence, second phase play and tackling on the edge of the area as key areas for the team.

Meanwhile, Great Britain are running hot - they beat Korea 3-1 and Argentina 2-0 - but Shortland is confident the Black Sticks can find some form against a team they beat 4-1 at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, preceding a 2-2 draw at the 2010 Champions Trophy.

"We have had a good run against them," says Shortland, "and upset them a few times in the past. But players will need to want the ball - sometimes people have been hiding. Overall we are pretty gutted and I hope we can turn it around."

"Great Britain are playing well and they are probably the team to beat," says Hager. "They are more attacking than in the past and actually very good to watch. But hopefully not today."