SKIPPER: Anita Punt will captain the Black Sticks women at their Champions Trophy tournament, beginning on Sunday in Argentina.
Eliminating costly lapses from their play will be critical if the Black Sticks women are to compete with the world's best at the Champions Trophy in Argentina.
New Zealand's squad has a vastly different look to it from June's World Cup - where they placed fifth.
Outstanding midfielder Kayla Whitelock is pregnant with her first child and is having a year's break from international hockey. Defender Emily Naylor - the most capped player in New Zealand women's history - is also taking time out.
Prolific striker Katie Glynn is sidelined with a knee injury, while Gemma Flynn is having a breather ahead of another busy year of hockey in 2015.
Chuck in the retirements of Krystal Forgesson and Bianca Russell, and the Black Sticks will be missing over 1000 combined caps of experience.
Hager is realistic about the expectations of a rebuilding New Zealand side at the Champions Trophy, which begins in Mendoza on Sunday morning (NZ time) against Japan.
He said a top-five effort at the eight-team tournament would be a strong return given the high number of changes.
Just three players in the Black Sticks' squad have played over 100 tests. Nine of the team are aged 22 or younger. If the young New Zealand side are to upset the top teams in the world, Hager said they had to cut out their inconsistent periods of play.
Those mistakes hurt them during their warmup games against Argentina this week, which they lost 2-1 and 3-0.
"We've got a young group. You're going to have patches where you lack consistency throughout a game. What we've got to do is try to reduce those patches.
"We've got be stronger in those small patches of play. That's when we're conceding the goals, because we're a young group and young defensive side."
New Zealand have been grouped with World No 1, the Netherlands, and Asian sides, China and Japan in pool play. They will then cross over with the other group at the quarterfinal stage.
China and Japan have been targeted as must-win games if the Black Sticks are to finish second in the group.
During their recent home series against the United States and Australia, several new faces made their debuts, including Shiloh Gloyn, who has been selected for the Champions Trophy.
Hager felt greater depth and competition for places had been created this year.
He bemoaned the fact, New Zealand did not have an 'A' side, who travelled overseas regularly.
"We've got the depth there. It's giving the experience and exposure to them. That's what we don't have compared to a lot of the other teams.
"Our depth has to learn on the run. We've got players coming into the Australia and USA series, never having played an international before."
Anita Punt, who has been in impressive goal-scoring form this year, will captain New Zealand at the Champions Trophy.
Stacey Michelsen and Sam Charlton have been named in the senior leadership group.
The 2014 hockey year has been a taxing one for the Black Sticks. They have already amassed a whopping 40 tests, which began in February with a three-nations series in the United States.
Hager said they were determined to finish the year strongly.
- The Press
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