We continue our series profiling Otago's Olympians. Today, sports reporter Adrian Seconi catches up with Black Sticks defender Blair Tarrant.
Adrian Seconi: You've just got back from Europe. How do you feel the Black Sticks performed over there?
Blair Tarrant: We went OK. It was definitely a learning curve. We played three games against Holland at the start of the trip and they are a quality side. We found a few things we need to tweak and I think we did that by the end of the trip.
AS: What sorts of things did you need to tweak?
BT: Our set piece. Attacking and defensive corners are a big deal in hockey. If you can do those things right you generally end up on the right side of the ledger.
AS: What is your role during the penalty corners? You don't have to charge the ball, do you?
BT: I do a bit of that and a bit of the post work as well.
AS: Are you pleased with your form?
BT: It has been a bit of an up and down year with injuries. I missed most of Azlan Shah with a hamstring injury. I got back into it in Auckland but then had a bit of bone bruising in the foot. I was kind of getting back into things in Europe and am starting to feel good again.
AS: What is the mood like in the camp ahead of the Olympics?
BT: I think we are confident. It is just tweaking those little things which has given us a bit more confidence.
AS: Aside from the hockey, what are you looking forward to about the Games?
BT: It should just be a good vibe. The whole Olympic Village will be a new experience. I've been to two Commonwealth Games but ultimately they weren't as big as Rio. It should be interesting.
AS: You missed the cut last time. Must be good feeling this time around?
BT: It was really disappointing but it just gave me the drive to push for this one, I guess.
AS: Where do you think the Black Sticks are strong?
BT: As a team we are hard to break down. From front to back we've got a pretty strong defensive set up. And once we get our penalty corner attack going well, that will be a strength for us, as well. We've got some world-class strikers but it would be good if they put a few more in the back of the net, I guess.
AS: Are you guys working hard on accuracy up front?
BT: Yeah. We are creating more chances than we have in the six years I've been with the team but it is just about converting them.
AS: You don't get forward much, so you're off the hook, right?
BT: I had a couple of chances in the last period I probably should have done better with.
AS: What does the team have to do to get those penalty corners functioning better?
BT: I think it is a combination of things. If the person dragging the ball out does that better, then that provides a better opportunity. It is just a matter of getting it all humming, I guess.
AS: What goes through your mind when you are charging towards the ball while defending those penalty corner?
BT: To be honest, you are just thinking I don't want to stuff it up, because then you go to the meetings later and you've got to watch yourself not running a good line about 10 times.
AS: Must be nice to play with your old school buddies [Kane Russell and Hugo Inglis] from Otago Boys' High School?
BT: Yeah, it's good. There are four of us [Nick Ross missed selection for the Olympics] in the [extended] squad. It would be pretty sick if we all got a medal.
AS: It would be. You don't have a secret handshake or anything?
BT: None of that carry-on.
AS: What do you do to mentally prepare for a big match?
BT: I just like to know that I've been thorough in my preparation. Whether that is knowing exactly what we're up against or what kind of tactics the other team has, that is what gives me confidence.
AS: How do feel about your medal prospects?
BT: In the first two days we've got Australia and then Great Britain, so we'll have to be humming from the start. They are massive games, so we've got to come out of the blocks.
