Hockey: Black Sticks zero in on strike rate for India visit with Rio in sights

Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, where the 2016 Olympics will be held. Photo / Bloomberg

New Zealand are likely to have a heavier emphasis than usual on goalscoring when they play India in their four-game series starting in Nelson on Tuesday.

Coach Colin Batch has been concerned at a failure to fully capitalise on opportunities, and with the Oceania Cup clash with Australia coming up - when Olympic qualification will be at stake - he's keen to see a sharpening in front of goal.

To that end, uncapped Midlands attacker Matt Rees-Gibbs has been called into a squad of 23. Rees-Gibbs has impressed Batch at the last two national tournaments, as a midfielder and a striker.

He scored four goals in last month's NHL, while there were useful hauls for other national squad attackers, including Central's Nick Wilson with seven, and Southern's Hugo Inglis and Capital's Stephen Jenness, who clashed in the Challenge Shield final, with six apiece.

"We're thinking of Matt as a striker," Batch said. "He's very collective in his play. He understands the pressing side of the game and we'll throw him in and see what he can do.

"One area we wanted to improve in from World League 3 was our scoring and strikers need more punch, so we'll see what Matt can bring to the group."

At the world league semifinal in Buenos Aires in June, New Zealand scored 15 goals in seven games, with four coming from captain Simon Child and two apiece from Steve Edwards, Hugo Inglis and penalty corner sharpshooter Nick Haig.

"It's definitely been a focus for us, even before Argentina," Inglis said yesterday. "It's just a combination of decision-making, connections with each other and having that ability to take those chances.

"It's one thing to take them in club hockey and NHL when you have the time and space. But the nature of international hockey is you don't have the same sort of flexibility. It's dealing with the extra pressure put on you and making smart decisions - whether we shoot the ball or look for penalty corners."

World No8 India offer tough opposition ahead of the Oceania Cup series in Stratford later this month.

Batch rates India's penalty corner prowess highly and in one respect they are similar to Australia, with a fast, attacking approach.

"Australia are very well structured and organised in defence, while India rely more on one-on-one defence. They'll provide a very good challenge and are bringing a strong squad here."

Veteran Kyle Pontifex was an influential figure in goal for Capital when they won the national title and at 35 has earned a recall, after last appearing for the Black Sticks at the London Olympics in 2012.

He may also have a role in helping organise the defensive structure and working with the 25-year-old classy first choice Devon Manchester.

• The women's Black Sticks start their four-game series against world No3 Argentina with games in Blenheim today and tomorrow.

They have had to make one change, with Canterbury's Pippa Hayward ruled out by injury. Her place has gone to Auckland midfielder Julia King.

The third game in Nelson on Tuesday offers a first opportunity for captain Anita Punt, who turned 28 yesterday, to play international hockey in her home town. The series ends in Christchurch next Friday.

New Zealand squad:

Goalkeepers: Devon Manchester (Auckland), Kyle Pontifex (Capital).

Defenders: Nick Haig, Bradley Shaw (Canterbury), Arun Panchia, Dwayne Rowsell (Auckland), Blair Tarrant, Kane Russell (Southern), Alex Shaw (Capital).

Midfielders: Ryan Archibald (Auckland), George Muir, James Coughlan (North Harbour), Nick Ross (Southern), Nic Woods (Midlands).

Attackers: Simon Child, Marcus Child, Jared Panchia (Auckland), Nick Wilson (Central), Steve Edwards (North Harbour), Hugo Inglis (Southern), Stephen Jenness, Blair Hilton (Capital), Matt Rees-Gibbs (Midlands).