Australia recorded a dominant victory in their first match of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Final score
Kookaburras 4
South Africa 0
Five-time Commonwealth Games hockey champions, the Australian Kookaburras will look to continue their golden run on home soil and they should kick things off with a win over South Africa. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:30pm (AEST).
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The Kookaburras, since hockey was introduced into the Commonwealth Games in 1998, haven’t lost a tournament. In fact, they have lost just one of their 26 games and never had to settle for a draw in the group stages, winning 25 of them.
While the Aussies are potentially not in the same, dominant position they have been previously, it’s hard to see them as anything other than favourites heading into a tournament played in relative familiarity on the Gold Coast.
Their form line is strong as well, with the side led by Commonwealth Games flag bearer Mark Knowles recently winning the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. It brought together some of the best sides in world hockey, including Commonwealth nations England, India, Malaysia and Pakistan, with the Kookaburras going through the tournament undefeated before beating England 2-1 in the final.
While Australia didn’t have to deal with New Zealand or the Netherlands (who aren’t part of the Commonwealth) on that occasion, their form is fantastic. Australia comprehensively beat New Zealand in the 2017 Oceania Cup and viewing them as anything other than favourites is impossible.
Knowles is the spiritual leader of the squad, but it’s a strong squad all over with rising star Blake Govers a key player in the forward line.
South Africa weren’t among the teams at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, but they are one of the better teams in the Commonwealth.
After finishing fifth at the 2014 Games in Glasgow, they have continually dominated the African Cup for Nations, winning again in 2017.
While their world rankings is down in 14th, the South African’s will pose a challenge for every team they come up against. Their defence is gritty and they are never afraid to get out and attack when need be, proving it by scoring 20 goals in four games during the 2017 African Cup.
Skipper Tim Drummond will need to lead the side. If South Africa give up an early lead, it could be impossible to come back.
Prediction
The Kookaburras shouldn’t be rusty, even this early in the tournament after their recent success. It means they should be able to come out and dominate this game, as well as fine tune areas of their defensive game plan.
Kookaburras 3 – South Africa 1.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the hockey from 4:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Lol can we have some of these guys in CA surely cant do any worse!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games hockey as the Kookaburras hammered South Africa. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back at 7:30pm (AEST) this evening for Night 4 of the swimming. The Hockeyroos are also on tonight, with Thomas English set to take you through that one at 9:30pm (AEST) as they take on Ghana. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Ha!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Where is BilltongBek?? I need some revenge for the slaughtering Australia suffered in the cricket.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, this was a second half shellacking from Australia. They got one on the board in a scrappy first half, then had eight penalty corners, converting for two goals in the third quarter to have the game over with the final 15 minutes still to play. From there, the Kookaburras were clinical in the final quarter. South Africa couldn't do anything about it, continually turning the ball over and struggling to gain any control of the contest. Australia off to the perfect start in their Commonwealth Games campaign. Australia 4 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Aussies working it from the back now after South Africa turned it over. Game breaking down again though. Australia 4 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Game just winding down now. South Africa having some last chance attacking raids to try and get on the board, but a corner is taken away by Zalewski here. Australia 4 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Not much drama left in this one now. South Africa just haven't gone up a gear like Australia did here and it shows. Australia 4 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' The South Africans working through Panther on the right He looks to flick in, but it's been taken away and a long throw clears it forward. Australia 4 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' The Aussies still on the attack here and Edwards gets into the circle. He puts a cross for Craig, but he can't get anything on it as the ball heads across the opposite sideline. Australia 4 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Australia turn it over this time as they tried to push forward, South Africa now getting on the run down the let. They go towards the circle before Whetton takes it away. Australia 4 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' Australia almost had another there, the shot just going wide of the goals. Australia 4 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 9' South Africa not doing a great deal right here. They turn it over, then look to clear and quickly leave it over the sideline. Well, hang on a minute. Wheddon has been pinged for a bit of a clash on the sideline and he will have to sit with a yellow card. Australia 4 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 10' - GOAL AUSTRALIA, AARON KLEINSCHMIDT Australia add another here. Mitton with a lovely bit of work to get into the circle, then he fires along the baseline at goalkeeper Jones. Kleinschmidt gets there and sends it past Jones into the bottom of the net to make it four nothing! Australia 4 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 12' Beale with the in pass for Australia to Hayward who sweeps it low on goal, but Jones has made the save again as the ball trickles over the baseline. Now a turnover and South Africa finally get some possession. Australia 3 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 12' Australia with another penalty corner! South Africa getting shelled here. Australia 3 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 13' Australia pushing forward up the middle and it's into the circle again from Mitton to Craig, but it's shut down well by Beale in front of goal. Australia 3 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 14' Might be a bit of a lull here to start the fourth. The air seems to have gone out of the crowd and indeed the game just for the moment after that sensational third quarter from Australia. Australia 3 South Africa 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 15' One quarter to go here. What does the score finish up Roarers? Australia 3 South Africa 0