Hockey: Veterans hope to celebrate grand occasion with win

Phillip Burrows, captain Dean Couzins, Blair Hopping and Ryan Archibald form the backbone of the Black Sticks side to play the Netherlands today. Photo / Greg Bowker

It's a statistic only New Zealand hockey's real train-spotters will be aware of.

In today's crucial Champions Trophy pool play clash against the Netherlands, the Black Sticks "big four" of Phil Burrows, Ryan Archibald, Blair Hopping and Dean Couzins will collectively amass 1000 test caps.

In a sport where packed international calendars and tournament play mean players can rack up huge numbers, it is easy to lose track of how many games you have played. So it wasn't until one of Hockey New Zealand's stats gurus got out the calculator that the four players knew they were closing in on 1000.

Collective test tallies isn't really something the team take much notice of - it is more an interesting wee side note than a major milestone. But Hopping said it does serve to illustrate the experience of the core group of veterans in the Black Sticks side.

"It's pretty awesome because obviously we've played a lot of those tests together, it also shows we're getting pretty old as well," he said.

The four double centurions have played together in the national team for more than a decade - Hopping and Couzins made their debuts for the Black Sticks in 2000, two years after Burrows and Archibald.

The latter pair have had enforced breaks from national duties because of injury, allowing Couzins, the Black Sticks skipper, and Hopping to close the gap.

Not surprisingly, having spent so much time out on the turf together the quartet have developed a unique understanding. Not quite to the point where they finish each other's sentences, but Hopping said it takes only as much as a simple one-word call to know what one another is doing.

The New Zealand side will need to draw on every ounce of experience if they are to topple the world number three Netherlands side today.

The Dutch have been impressive in their opening two hit-outs, their class showing through in their 3-2 win over Germany yesterday.

"I don't think we'll be thinking too much about the 1000th test, I think we'll be thinking more about getting the right result.

"It's a big game and we're aiming to get in to the top four so it's a must-win for us," Hopping said.

Experienced

* Black Sticks double centurions:
* Phil Burrows 263
* Dean Couzins 239
* Blair Hopping 242
* Ryan Archibald 252.