"Two trainings," Edmondson said when asked how many times she had met the newcomers. "Some of the girls I've seen in a few camps before, so I've seen a little bit more, but a couple of the girls, like Megan Craig, that was the first time I've ever met her."
Men's coach Nenad Vucinic said he had never had a team go into a match after only two days' preparation. "That's a very difficult and very unfair situation that Kennedy and the team have been put in, but they always play tough and they always take it as it is."
The issue for Kereama is money. The Tall Ferns have next to none, resulting in an equal amount of negotiating power when attempting to persuade clubs to release players.
A number of established Tall Ferns have been unable to return to New Zealand for the series, while Australia-based players were able to join their teammates only on Sunday night.
"It's pretty tough but those are just the cards we've been dealt," Kereama said. "As much as all of our women want to come back and represent New Zealand, it makes it very difficult when you don't have the funding to bring them home."
Tall Ferns v Australia
North Shore Events Centre, 5pm today
