Commonwealth Games: Burrows confident Black Sticks can rebound

Skipper Phil Burrows is confident the Black Sticks can bounce back from semifinal disappointment and be ready to give it their best shot when they battle England for the Commonwealth Games men's hockey bronze medal on Thursday.

The New Zealanders were beaten 6-2 by tournament favourites Australia in New Delhi today, and Burrows said lifting themselves after missing out on the final would take a bit of effort.

"It will be be tough, but I think they will know what will be at stake," he said.

"Going home with a medal, it's huge for the boys."

Burrows, along with vice-captain Dean Couzins and Hayden Shaw, will be going for their second Games medal.

The three were part of the New Zealand team that claimed silver in Manchester eight years ago.

World No 1 Australia, who have won all three previous Commonwealth tournaments, showed their class against the Black Sticks at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

They had built up a 4-0 lead by early in the second half, although New Zealand did mount a spirited comeback, with Blair Hilton and Burrows reducing the gap to 4-2 with 10 minutes to go.

Burrows again found the back of the net shortly after but, much to his annoyance, the effort was ruled out after the ball was judged to have been lifted too high in the circle.

What might have been a one-goal margin became four when the Kookaburras added insult to injury with two late goals.

Burrows believed the scoreline wasn't a true reflection of the game and he praised his teammates' fighting spirit, which he wanted them to reproduce against England.

"If we fight like that, we'll go home with a medal," he said. "If we turn up with a lack-lustre performance, we'll lose."

The other semifinal proved to be a thriller, with India edging out England in a penalty shootout after the teams were locked at 3-3 after extra time.

That match started 6-1/2 hours after the first semifinal, and Black Sticks coach Shane McLeod believed the amount of energy England expended, and the extra recuperation time his side would have, could be factors.

As for improvements from their defeat to the Kookaburras, McLeod wanted a more consistent performance from his players.

When they moved the ball around, they were able to break through oppostion pressure, he said.

But if they were wasteful with possession, they wouldn't win.

New Zealand and England met in pool play, with the English coming out on top 5-3.