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Published on: 1/1/2007
Last Visited: 10/3/2009
"We were technically and physically overrun", declared New Zealand coach, Allan Jones, at the conclusion of his first game in charge of the national women's team.
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The New Zealand players certainly made an impression on Jones, although it was far from the one they had hoped!
"I've learnt a lot about this current squad, and there will need to be a massive improvement if we are to progress on the world stage", was the statement which his charges were left to contemplate prior to the return encounter, forty-eight hours later on the Australian Institute of Sport's soccer pitch.
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"That performance was a massive improvement", enthused Jones.
"Having not changed the tactics, we nearly won it through being prepared to contest both physically and technically - the application of the whole squad during the second game was totally different to that seen on Sunday.
"They were disappointed in coming off the pitch having not got a result.
They now have to build on this performance and take confidence from it in order to get results at this level".
Looking ahead to New Zealand's next challenge - the Oceania Women's World Cup qualifying tournament, which is currently set down for Lae, Papua New Guinea, from April 9-13, Jones expects to see benefits emanating from this display.