Irish don’t fear the unknown

MUCH in the same way as international soccer teams play to different patterns, so it is in world hockey and the Irish team attempting to qualify here for the World Cup finals in Germany next September, face a Japanese side today with a style alien to anything they are used to.

The Asians favour a fast-attacking style of play rather than the more cautious patterns adopted by the Irish.

Japan are going to pose some new challenges, but for captain Paddy Brown the threats are no greater than the Irish faced when drawing 2-2 with mighty Pakistan on Wednesday.