The Hockeyroos and New Zealand will have a further opportunity to test each other before the 2012 London Olympics, with Fiji withdrawing from the Oceania Cup-Olympic Qualifier event to be held in Hobart from October 5-9.
Originally planned as a three team tournament, Fiji’s withdrawal means that the Hockeyroos and New Zealand will now play in a best of three series to determine who is the Oceania Cup champion.
Fiji will still compete in the men’s competition of the tournament taking on the Kookaburras and New Zealand, with each team playing each other once before the top two teams meet in the final to decide the winner of the Oceania Cup.
As both the Hockeyroos and New Zealand are the top two ranked teams in the Oceania Federation, they will now receive automatic qualification to the 2012 London Olympics.
However despite this, there will still be plenty on the line for both teams.
Not only will the Hockeyroos be seeking revenge after New Zealand defeated them at the 2011 Champions Trophy, but with the two teams set to be placed in the same pool at the London Olympics, both teams will be keen to observe one another and gain a psychological edge ahead of the Games.
Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens said that with the team not competing in the 2012 Champions Trophy in January, any opportunity to play a quality team with something on the line was a positive.
“The reality is that New Zealand are currently ranked ahead of us (New Zealand 6 – Australia 7). We aren’t competing at the Champions Trophy next year, so the fact that we will get another game against a higher ranked team will help our development towards the London Olympics,” said Commens.
Draw
Wednesday 5th October 2011
5.30pm Men 1v3 Australia v Fiji
Thursday 6th October 2011
5.30pm Men 2v1 New Zealand v Australia
7.30pm Women 2v1 Australia v New Zealand
Friday 7th October 2011
Rest Day
Saturday 8th October 2011
1.00pm Women 1v2 New Zealand v Australia
3.00pm Men 3v2 Fiji v New Zealand
Sunday 9th October 2011
1.00pm Women 2 v 1 - Australia v New Zealand
3.30pm Men Final - 1st Ranked Team v 2nd Ranked Team
Hockey Australia Media Release
