Ric Charlesworth wasn't that displeased when the Australian men's hockey team, the Kookaburras in their preparation for the World Cup in Delhi India later this month, lost the last of their three Test match series against Korea last week in Hobart.
Australia won the first two Tests, 5-1 and 2-1 but then went down 1-2 to Korea in the third and final test. Charlesworth saw this loss as a wakening up. Read a comprehensive overview of this Test series here.
Meanwhile the Kookaburras go into the World Cup with confidence with their recent Champion's Trophy final win over Germany 5-3 having been down 1-3 at half time.
The World Cup is a huge field hockey event. In Australia's round robin pool is Spain, Pakistan, England, South Africa and host nation India. They play England first up on the 28 February 2010. In the other pool is New Zealand, Korea, Canada, Germany, Netherlands and Argentina. Read details of the Field Hockey World Cup here .
There were a number key rule changes which were discussed by this writer early in December. These involved the way free hits are taken and penalty corners.
New Kookaburra coach Ric Charlesworth put his players on notice after their Champions Trophy victory thinking that complacency may be a problem for the World Cup.
There is no greater Olympic hockey story than that of Kookaburra and Beijing Bronze Medallist Andrew Smith who against all odds made it to the Olympics. This writer's feature article details the Andrew Smith story.
Meanwhile the Hockeyroos face world number two Argentina in a four Test series in March beginning in Townsville.