Gale force winds in Taupo that forced a postponement of todays day three matches at the OFC Mens Olympic Qualifiers have also forced New Zealand U-23 coach to reshuffle his deck when the rescheduled clash against Tonga is played tomorrow. With Owen Delany Park under Civil Defence lockdown, Crown Park was mooted as a replacement to allow the two games affecting semi final placings to take place but with no let-up in the winds, Oceania Football Officials made the decision to postpone all match day three games to Wednesday. It throws another spanner in the works for Neil Emblen and his Oly Whites coaching staff, following Marco Rojas being ruled out with injury before joining the team, as well as an troublesome hamstring for fullback Ian Hogg and a suspension for Dakota Lucas. Wed already named the team and the lads were all ready to go to play. They were just about to head down to the ground, Emblen said. It wouldve been a ridiculous spectacle. You wouldve hit the ball one way and watched the wind blow it off the pitch on the other side. I totally agree with the refs decision but it makes it difficult to cram the game in before the final stage starts. We need to conserve our energy now and we need to start planning. New Zealand will now that face three games in four days if they are to qualify for the London Olympics, and Emblen is mindful of a potential semi-final looming just 24 hours after tomorrows rescheduled game. This afternoon the staff will get together and work thorough things. We were already going to rest Adam McGeorge as he is one yellow card away from suspension but we might need to look at a few more of the lads that would be starting in a semi final and maybe look at bringing in some others to start tomorrow. Only a two goal defeat to Tonga would prevent the Oly Whites securing a Thursday semi-final against the second placed team from Group A, which will be decided when joint leaders Vanuatu and Fiji meet at 5pm tomorrow in another rescheduled clash. OFC Mens Olympic Qualifiers 2012 16-24 March 2012 Owen Delany Park, Taupo, New Zealand
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