EDWINA Bone is confident a host of new faces in the Hockeyroos line-up for Australia’s tilt at Champions Trophy glory won’t stem the tide of success enjoyed by the women’s hockey outfit.
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Ranked number two in the world, the Hockeyroos have made the final of the Champions Challenge, won the World League three, the Oceania Cup, claimed a World League four silver medal and World Cup silver as well as Commonwealth Games gold in the space of 18 months.
And Bone believes even without five experienced players, more success was headed her side’s way in Mendoza, Argentina, when its Champions Trophy campaign kicks off at 6.30am Sunday morning.
“There’s been some great performances and some amazing experiences,” Bone said via email from Mendoza yesterday, a trip the Hockeyroos have made without experienced stars, skipper Madonna Blyth, Rachel Lynch, Georgie Parker, Jane Claxton and the injured Kellie White.
“We have five new players included in to the team for this tournament while some of the senior players are taking a well earned break, so it is a good opportunity to give some of these younger players some exposure to international hockey.
“At the same time, we do not expect a lesser performance because we have new players.
“We are looking to perform at a very high standard and continue the dominance that this team has had over the past 18 months.”
Australia’s first game is against England, a side the Hockeyroos defeated to claim gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier in 2014.
After encountering the English in a Champions Trophy warm-up game on Wednesday AEDT, Bone was banking on her side learning for its pre-tournament hit-out ahead of a traditional “grudge match” against the Poms.
“That’s what is great about it ... we know each other very well and it is going to be a great challenge for the Hockeyroos,” the former Kinross student said.
“We are definitely looking for a strong performance against their side so that we put ourselves in the best position to finish at the top of our pool.”
Bone said she was also looking forward to her side’s second game, a clash with hosts Argentina.
“In Argentina is a very exciting experience,” she said.
“The stands will be packed, music pumping and the crowds are very loud, there is a lot going on, a lot of distractions.”
She believes whichever side voids itself of the outside distractions will assume pool supremacy - a task no doubt more difficult than imaginable.
“Last year, at World League Four in Argentina, we played Argentina in a round match and the noise of the crowd was so loud we could not hear each other on the pitch,” she added.
The Hockeyroos’ 2014 Champions Trophy campaign begins on Sunday morning against England.