The Black Sticks have made it to the semifinals of the FIH Nations Cup – remaining unbeaten throughout the pools.
They’re set to take on the United States tonight, clashing at North Harbour Hockey Centre for a spot in the final.
Captain Olivia Shannon joined Adam Cooper to preview the game.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News talks'b.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Let's Chat International Hockey. The Black Sticks women have had
a pretty good campaign so far at their home if
I atch Nations Cup in Auckland, undefeated to end pool play,
the most recent win coming Thursday with a two to
one win over France at North Harbor. But it's into
the playoffs now. Its semi finals begin today and for
the Black Sticks it is a match against the United
(00:34):
States in the semifinals. Half past six against underway at
the National Hockey Center at North Harbor. And let's head
to the Black Sticks women's camp now. They're captain Olivia
Shannon as well us. Morning to you, Olivia, thanks for
joining us, and well, I mean, unbeaten in pool play
straight into the semifinals, team performing pretty well, you'd be
pretty happy with how the week's gone so far.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, obviously pretty pleased. Getting top of the tables always
a good thing leading into semi final. But obviously in
every sport you want to be better and I think
you know we can be better in the attacking circle.
We can better in the circle. We've got a big
World Cup coming up. So yeah, but at the moment
we're tracking really nicely. You can't ask for much more
than being top of your table right now, so it's
(01:14):
really good.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, before the tournament starts and with that World Cup
and mind, what were the focuses of the team heading
into round robin play?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Yeah, obviously it's nice having a tournament styled structure leading
into the World Cup. You've now got the pressure of
a semi final. I guess you don't really have that
at your club games or you know, those times that
you are just playing a regular Saturday game. So to
have a big pressure game is going to be really
important for us leading into the World Cup. But yeah, obviously,
coming to this tournament, this selection on the line for
(01:45):
World Cup, so it puts that extra added pressure on
the girls as well. But yeah, I think the big
thing is just growing our game leading into the World Cup.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Have you been tested well enough through the week you
believe to be competitive in the semifinals?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I think you're a bit of
a tough head out against France, we wanted more goals
and didn't quite get them, and I guess that comes
up a little bit of frustration but yeah, I think,
you know, playing Chile they're a really quality side as well,
playing France you're obviously a really good quality side, and
I think you know, those games have set us into
instead leading them, and a couple.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Of goals from that most recent game coming from the
penalty corners. So yeah, happy with the way those kind
of plans and set pieces are working out.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, set pieces are going really well for us at
the moment, and it's something that we've really been working
on in the last six months. So to see that
work paying off at the moment and that's a testament
to us flickers and as well as the battery as well.
So yeah, it's going really well at the moment.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Another team we're probably expecting some goals from this weekend
are the United States. They I think they're topping the
tournament so far, aren't They was with goals scored. So
does that make you look down to your defensive end
and your defenders and say, hey, guys, you're going to
have to step up this weekend?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Yeah, definitely. I think it's a whole team defensive work
that we're going to have to put in. USA is
always a team that we have a good tussle with
so to cross him and the SIMI is also going
to be a good prep for us for the World Cup.
But yeah, they're playing really well at the moment, and
it's a semi finals, so you've got to beat all
those teams to get to the finals. So to say
them is going to be going to be a real
high quality match. We're obviously going to have to be
(03:15):
really switched on with defense, but as well as attack
score more goals than them, you're obviously going to win
the game. So yeah, I think that's just really exciting
for us. It's a really exciting opportunity and challenge.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
You guys are used tournament play a lot in terms of,
you know, backing up from games. It's been a busy
week and you've got hopefully a couple more big games
to play for the title here to continue across the
next few days. How do you sort of make sure
you stay fresh but you're also able to contribute and
deliver to maximum ability and energy through three weeks like this.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yeah, obviously girls have had three games under their belt now,
so it's a lot of k's in the legs in
the last week. So yeah, I think I think the
big thing is recovery, sleeping, wele, eating, male, all those
those little things, but switching off the hockey for a
little bit and then we can come together again tonight
and switch back on for it. And I think, you know,
the girls who were used to tournament style hockey, so
(04:07):
I think that that's the main thing is the girls
are ready. The girls are prepped. We've had those three
games where we've fixed some things up as well, so yeah,
we're best prepped to lead into that semi final.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
And you travel around the world, you go to some
pretty different places to New Zealand having tournaments like these
on home soil in Auckland where a lot of the
teams from How nice is that being able to play
decent matches in front of home fans?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Oh yeah, Louck, it's like playing at homes just next
to nothing. A yes, So yes, playing at home. You know,
you always dream of playing at home when you're a kid.
You play in front of your friends and family, and
that's a big reason why a lot of sports people
play sports to play at home and play and that
support network that they've had when they grow up. So yeah,
we're just we're just super lucky to be on home
salt soil and have a semi final. Yeah, your dream
(04:52):
is that as a little girl, and I think to
have it is super exciting and to show the hockey
community what we can do and show those little girls
and boys on the sideline what hockey is, which is
super super cool.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
And lifting the trophy aside, what would you like to
get out of these last couple of games of this
tournament to kind of help build up to the World
Cup as best as possible.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, obviously lifting the trophy is super important. Everyone wants
to win and that's why everyone comes to these tournaments.
But the big thing is just growing confidence in this group,
growing experience in this group. We've got obviously got quite
an inexperience in young teams, so just to expose them
to high appreciate high level hockey as much as we can,
and I think that's what this tournament's doing for the
younger girls and experienced girls in the team, but also
(05:35):
the older ones too, just you know, getting that connection,
getting that balance right leading into World Cup is going
to be really important. So that's the major for this year,
and I guess that's also where our focus is with
that as well.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
And should you get through, which everyone listening, I'm sure
because there'll be New Zealand fans we'll be hoping you
do get through. Any preference here, any daunting team you'd
rather not have in the final, who's your pick for
that one?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
To be fair, whoever we meet, we've got to beat them.
So I'm actually not to two phays to we get
in the final, but obviously to focus as that semi
final and whoever we come up against in the final
will be, will be, and we've got to check that
one off.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
First, right, all the very best Olivia. Congrats on the
week so far and are the great results you've had
and all the best for the momentum to continue over
the weekend. Thanks for your time, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to news talks that'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News talks'b.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Let's Chat International Hockey. The Black Sticks women have had
a pretty good campaign so far at their home if
I atch Nations Cup in Auckland, undefeated to end pool play,
the most recent win coming Thursday with a two to
one win over France at North Harbor. But it's into
the playoffs now. Its semi finals begin today and for
the Black Sticks it is a match against the United
(00:34):
States in the semifinals. Half past six against underway at
the National Hockey Center at North Harbor. And let's head
to the Black Sticks women's camp now. They're captain Olivia
Shannon as well us. Morning to you, Olivia, thanks for
joining us, and well, I mean, unbeaten in pool play
straight into the semifinals, team performing pretty well, you'd be
pretty happy with how the week's gone so far.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, obviously pretty pleased. Getting top of the tables always
a good thing leading into semi final. But obviously in
every sport you want to be better and I think
you know we can be better in the attacking circle.
We can better in the circle. We've got a big
World Cup coming up. So yeah, but at the moment
we're tracking really nicely. You can't ask for much more
than being top of your table right now, so it's
(01:14):
really good.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, before the tournament starts and with that World Cup
and mind, what were the focuses of the team heading
into round robin play?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Yeah, obviously it's nice having a tournament styled structure leading
into the World Cup. You've now got the pressure of
a semi final. I guess you don't really have that
at your club games or you know, those times that
you are just playing a regular Saturday game. So to
have a big pressure game is going to be really
important for us leading into the World Cup. But yeah, obviously,
coming to this tournament, this selection on the line for
(01:45):
World Cup, so it puts that extra added pressure on
the girls as well. But yeah, I think the big
thing is just growing our game leading into the World Cup.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Have you been tested well enough through the week you
believe to be competitive in the semifinals?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I think you're a bit of
a tough head out against France, we wanted more goals
and didn't quite get them, and I guess that comes
up a little bit of frustration but yeah, I think,
you know, playing Chile they're a really quality side as well,
playing France you're obviously a really good quality side, and
I think you know, those games have set us into
instead leading them, and a couple.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Of goals from that most recent game coming from the
penalty corners. So yeah, happy with the way those kind
of plans and set pieces are working out.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, set pieces are going really well for us at
the moment, and it's something that we've really been working
on in the last six months. So to see that
work paying off at the moment and that's a testament
to us flickers and as well as the battery as well.
So yeah, it's going really well at the moment.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Another team we're probably expecting some goals from this weekend
are the United States. They I think they're topping the
tournament so far, aren't They was with goals scored. So
does that make you look down to your defensive end
and your defenders and say, hey, guys, you're going to
have to step up this weekend?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Yeah, definitely. I think it's a whole team defensive work
that we're going to have to put in. USA is
always a team that we have a good tussle with
so to cross him and the SIMI is also going
to be a good prep for us for the World Cup.
But yeah, they're playing really well at the moment, and
it's a semi finals, so you've got to beat all
those teams to get to the finals. So to say
them is going to be going to be a real
high quality match. We're obviously going to have to be
(03:15):
really switched on with defense, but as well as attack
score more goals than them, you're obviously going to win
the game. So yeah, I think that's just really exciting
for us. It's a really exciting opportunity and challenge.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
You guys are used tournament play a lot in terms of,
you know, backing up from games. It's been a busy
week and you've got hopefully a couple more big games
to play for the title here to continue across the
next few days. How do you sort of make sure
you stay fresh but you're also able to contribute and
deliver to maximum ability and energy through three weeks like this.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yeah, obviously girls have had three games under their belt now,
so it's a lot of k's in the legs in
the last week. So yeah, I think I think the
big thing is recovery, sleeping, wele, eating, male, all those
those little things, but switching off the hockey for a
little bit and then we can come together again tonight
and switch back on for it. And I think, you know,
the girls who were used to tournament style hockey, so
(04:07):
I think that that's the main thing is the girls
are ready. The girls are prepped. We've had those three
games where we've fixed some things up as well, so yeah,
we're best prepped to lead into that semi final.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
And you travel around the world, you go to some
pretty different places to New Zealand having tournaments like these
on home soil in Auckland where a lot of the
teams from How nice is that being able to play
decent matches in front of home fans?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Oh yeah, Louck, it's like playing at homes just next
to nothing. A yes, So yes, playing at home. You know,
you always dream of playing at home when you're a kid.
You play in front of your friends and family, and
that's a big reason why a lot of sports people
play sports to play at home and play and that
support network that they've had when they grow up. So yeah,
we're just we're just super lucky to be on home
salt soil and have a semi final. Yeah, your dream
(04:52):
is that as a little girl, and I think to
have it is super exciting and to show the hockey
community what we can do and show those little girls
and boys on the sideline what hockey is, which is
super super cool.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
And lifting the trophy aside, what would you like to
get out of these last couple of games of this
tournament to kind of help build up to the World
Cup as best as possible.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, obviously lifting the trophy is super important. Everyone wants
to win and that's why everyone comes to these tournaments.
But the big thing is just growing confidence in this group,
growing experience in this group. We've got obviously got quite
an inexperience in young teams, so just to expose them
to high appreciate high level hockey as much as we can,
and I think that's what this tournament's doing for the
younger girls and experienced girls in the team, but also
(05:35):
the older ones too, just you know, getting that connection,
getting that balance right leading into World Cup is going
to be really important. So that's the major for this year,
and I guess that's also where our focus is with
that as well.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
And should you get through, which everyone listening, I'm sure
because there'll be New Zealand fans we'll be hoping you
do get through. Any preference here, any daunting team you'd
rather not have in the final, who's your pick for
that one?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
To be fair, whoever we meet, we've got to beat them.
So I'm actually not to two phays to we get
in the final, but obviously to focus as that semi
final and whoever we come up against in the final
will be, will be, and we've got to check that
one off.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
First, right, all the very best Olivia. Congrats on the
week so far and are the great results you've had
and all the best for the momentum to continue over
the weekend. Thanks for your time, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to news talks that'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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