Trans-Tasman rival Australia and Olympic hockey champions the Netherlands are New Zealand's opening competitors at the Athens Olympics after the draw was released yesterday.
As a qualifier New Zealand was likely to strike a top team in their pool in the first match, but it has drawn the short straw with Australia and the Netherlands.
The draw was another body-blow for the side after key playmaker Ryan Archibald was ruled out with injury, but captain Simon Towns put a positive spin on the draw saying New Zealand was at least familiar with the Australians.
"We play them regularly so they are no big mystery. We haven't seen Argentina for a while so it would have been more difficult if we struck them first up."
The Australian match is at 8.30am and will require an early start for both teams, but New Zealand has anticipated early starts. At its training camp in Perth earlier this month it was up early for one of its training sessions.
"We'll do that again when we're in Europe in August," said Towns.
Towns and his fellow players know there will be no easy games at the Olympics.
The one consolation is they have a day between each game. Australia and the Netherlands are followed by Argentina, India and South Africa.
New Zealand has to finish in the top two in their pool to reach the semifinals. The women are slightly better off. They meet China in their first game followed by Japan, world champion Argentina and Spain. Like the men they have to finish in the top two to reach the semi-finals.
The pool draws are: Men - August 15 v Australia; August 17 v the Netherlands; August 19 v Argentina; August 21 v India; August 23 v South Africa. Women - August 16 v China; August 18 v Japan; August 20 v Argentina; August 22 v Spain.
- NZPA
The pool draws are:
Men - August 15 v Australia;
August 17 v the Netherlands;
August 19 v Argentina;
August 21 v India;
August 23 v South Africa.
Women - August 16 v China;
August 18 v Japan;
August 20 v Argentina;
August 22 v Spain.
FILE PHOTO: by Peter Cawkwell Dec 2003
