THE Investec South Africa women's hockey team get the chance to make up for the heartbreak of losing their quarter-final Champions Challenge match on golden goal to Spain Thursday when they take on India in the fifth to eighth place playoffs opening round in Dublin, Ireland at 4.30 pm SA time Friday.

There was much soul searching in the SA camp in the aftermath of the 3-2 defeat to world number 10 Spain, as the girls in green and gold had a massive 37 entries into the Spaniard's circle yet despite so many chances in the strike zone the South Africans shot high, wide and handsome with an appalling regularity that cost them the game.

On defence, too, the SA side had much straight talking to do Thursday night as Spain only entered the SA circle three times and scored three goals.

Head coach Giles Bonnet and his battery of trainers were working the SA defence hard in training Friday morning and apart from injured striker Jen Wilson, who was sorely missed against Spain, the team is at full strength.

World number 11 India, a talented side ranked one place above SA, are also bitterly disappointed at their 1-0 defeat to Japan in the quarterfinals and this encounter is anyone's game.

Jon Cook
SA Hockey Media