A double strike from the 250 times-capped leading marksman Jay Stacy inspired Australia to a 3-1 win over Pakistan in a bad-tempered Pool B match in the hockey World Cup in Utrecht yesterday, ending the 1994 winners' hopes of retaining the trophy.

Australia, who last won the trophy in 1986, will face the Netherlands in tomorrow's semi-finals while Germany, who topped Pool A, will take on Spain, who beat Poland 4-0. Today, the women's semi-finals hold centre stage with the holders Australia meeting Argentina and the Netherlands taking on Germany.

Muckross open their campaign in the European Club Championship (B Division) in Swansea this afternoon against HC Ritm Grodno of Belarus.