Wits venue for hockey Tests

South Africa’s men’s hockey team have qualified for their World Cup later this month, but their only competitive outings before that will be four Tests against France at Wits University starting today.

France are only ranked 20th in the world and will be going to their first World Cup since 1990, but such is the company South Africa are forced to keep these days.

Their new coach, Mark Hopkins, would surely have wanted them to play more warm-up matches before the World Cup, which will be held in Bhubaneshwar, India, from November 28, but SA Hockey is so cash-strapped that they will be setting up donation boxes around the astroturf to help cover their expenses.

And of course some good wins over France, with the first two Tests today and tomorrow at 12pm being televised on SuperSport, might also convince some companies to actually sponsor the sport.

It will be the first time South Africa have met France in senior international hockey and the home side will be leaning heavily on the experience of captain Tim Drummond and his fellow European-based players Rhett Halkett, Tommy Hammond, Taine Paton, Austin Smith and Nic Spooner, as well as veterans like goalkeeper Rassie Pieterse, striker Julian Hykes and defender Jethro Eustice.