Hockeyroos sense chance for revenge against NZ
H O C K E Y R O O S c a p t a i n Emily Smith is looking to “get one back” on 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallists New Zealand ahead of Sunday morning’s decisive 2018 World Cup encounter in London.
World No. 5 Australia and world No. 4 New Zealand will meet in the final Pool D game to decide final pool placings and who qualifies for the quarter- finals and play- offs.
The top- ranked side from each pool will progress to the final eight, while second and third will go into the knockout play- offs on Tuesday morning to fight for a spot in the quarter- finals.
New Zealand defeated Australia, featuring Townsville’s Stephanie Kershaw, in April’s Commonwealth Games gold medal match on the Gold Coast, while they also knocked the Hockeyroos out of the 2016 Rio Olympics in the quarters.
Australia claimed some revenge with victory in May’s Tri Nations in Queenstown, as well as last year’s Oceania Cup in Sydney, but they’ll be eager to triumph on the big stage.
“We’ve had this Trans- Tasman rivalry for years,” Smith said. “We always know it’s going to be a hard- fought game. I’m really looking forward to the challenge.
“They obviously got the better of us at our home Comm Games. That was disappointing and a bit of heartbreak to swallow.
“We need to get them one back. They lost their game ( 2- 1 to Japan on Tuesday) so they’ll be wanting to come out and show the rest of the world why they’re here. “We want to do the same.” Australia could have put one foot firmly in the quarter- finals if they had claimed victory over Belgium on Tuesday night, instead settling for a 0- 0 draw.
Smith added: “I’d say it was an opportunity missed. That really would’ve set us up well going into the next qualification round but credit to Belgium who defended really doggedly.”