The New Zealand men's hockey coach Shane McLeod says his players will be better off for their World Cup experience.
The Black Sticks will meet South Africa in their last match in Delhi tonight in the play-off for 9th place.
With the loss of some key players like the Shaw brothers and Simon Child, and the injury to Phil Burrows at the tournament, McLeod has compared his side to a heavyweight boxer who can spar with the best but is unable to throw the knockout punch.
But McLeod says the new players in his squad will have learnt a lot which will help them later this year in the Champions Trophy and the Commonwealth Games.
