14 Apr 2018

Tall Blacks take on Canada today

11:20 am on 14 April 2018

The Tall Blacks take on Canada today in the Commonwealth Games basketball and they're not looking any further ahead than that.

Tall Blacks perform the haka before the start of play.

Tall Blacks perform the haka before the start of play. Photo: Photosport NZ

The New Zealanders play Canada this afternoon, while Australia play Scotland in the Commonwealth Games semi-finals. The winners will play for a gold medal.

The Tall Blacks coach says he's expecting an intense semi-final against Canada, even though they've already played Canada in the tournament and won 82-60.

Paul Henare says with 26 turnovers in that game, there is a lot to work on.

"There was a little bit of a deflated feel coming into that third game in four days. Maybe that's pretty natural in terms of how much the body can sustain, but we've got to the semi-finals, and I don't think there will be any lack of motivation."

Captain Mika Vukona says they're focussed on today's game.

"It was a physical game when we played them [Canada] up at Cairns. They really got us out of the things we wanted to do."

Henare says the team is here for the gold medal - but they're focussed on Canada, not looking ahead to the gold medal match.

Mika Vukona, Dillon Boucher and Lindsay Tait on the podium at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Mika Vukona, Dillon Boucher and Lindsay Tait on the podium at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Photosport

"I haven't had to stand in front of the group and say 'this is what we're playing for.' The boys are well and truly self-motivated…I just have to manage that excitement and anticipation."

Vukona is the only member of the team who played at the Games in 2006, which took away a silver medal. Looking ahead to the final - if they make it - he says he doesn't want his current teammates to feel the way he did then.

"As one of the young guys on that team, I was sitting on the bench watching, and just to see the anguish in the guys' eyes, it's not something we want to experience or let the guys experience."