This interview was conducted over email, and is the personal (not official) opinion of James Mitchell. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to receive James' perspective on the Australian Interstate Championships, and thank him for taking the time to answer our questions.

In your opinion, what benefits are there to gain from New Zealand teams competing at the Australian Interstate Championships?

Main points are a higher level of competition for the senior teams. Say for our men's team, in NZ we had the potential to lose a game, in Australia that is turned around to " potential to win a game". Certainly the whole training and lead-up is great for NZ polo. We are eliciting a more committed player by having them train and work hard for results that may be taken for granted in NZ. Also there are plenty of other benefits: individual match-ups, new tactics, trying our tactics out, new international contact, revitalising stale play and players etc........

Are there aspects of the Australian competition format that you feel would be useful for New Zealand to adapt?

Personally there isn't a lot of structure from Australia that I wish NZCPA to emulate. I think that long term we are heading down a better track. We are lucky to be blessed with more players and a closer geographical spread. Though perhaps........naah...

What did you personally gain from the experience?

An incentive to train hard for worlds, it was like a reward part way along the road to worlds. Playing with the team was a huge part of that experience, it has to be one of the best teams I have ever been a part of. Shame that we will not be able to continue to develop all the players (and our play) in the future.......but still the bulk is still in central and looking at the Youth players coming through, the future is bright. Another huge gain was the feeling that the Australians are "not all that", we have many players that are not far off the mark.

Will you attend the Interstate Championships again? What would you do differently?

Yes! Of course! Train hard again. There isn't a lot I would do differently, most of it just came down to big match experience...........that is something that is pretty hard to train.

What was the most positive moment that you experienced at the competition?

Individual: picking up my standard of play from NSW game to the Victoria Game. Team: Despite loosing a play-off game into the final 4, we still gave ourselves every chance to succeed if the other teams faltered. Coaching (Central Senior 2) Holding NSW to a 2-0 lose .....game plan and succeeding in our objective to half in Australia!

What moment do you think was the turning point in the competition for your team?

Draw against Victoria, we were 2-1 up with 30 seconds on the clock.....and essentially gave the ball to the "biggest arm in Aus" in front of our goal. In hindsight 4 out of 5 players could have acted differently to avert that situation (including my-self).......not to mention the countless other lost opportunities in that game. Those are the breaks.

Is it possible for New Zealand teams to gain medal placings at that competition? If so, what do they need to do?

Definitely.......Men and women......there is very little in it between the top teams.....really just experience and we're gaining that quickly! We were bitterly disappointed not to get in the top three this time.

How would you rate the Australian teams?

Not as dominant as they have been previously.........certainly not awe inspiring...but worthy of respect. NZ has the ability to beat Aussie, not yet 50% of the time but the occasional upset.........long term we will have the wood on them.......Just look at all the players coming through.

What tactical differences did you notice?

Australian tactics are for the most part relatively simple (but effective). Rotating offences with multiple drivers or double/ triple dish offs. Looking at what some of the regional and club teams are coming up with in the last couple of years, I think that we are breading a smarter and more adaptable player than is seen in Australia.

What effect did the refereeing and difference in rules have?

Minor......mostly adapted too in the first couple of games. They have the same problem sport has the world over with referees: different abilities and interpretations.........it's all really a matter of playing to the referee.