Netball: Irrepressible Tairi bounces back into Silver Ferns

By Suzanne McFadden

Teresa Tairi was devastated when told she had to have knee surgery for a third time in five years - certain her netball career was over.

Yesterday she was bouncing around on both her troublesome knees at the news that she was back in the Silver Ferns side to play at the world championships in September.

The North Harbour shooter has almost fully recovered from cartilage surgery on her right knee a month ago, so New Zealand coach Yvonne Willering called her up again - the only change to the 12 who demoralised South Africa in the past week.

The most controversial exclusion is Noeline Taurua, a shooting veteran of the Silver Ferns since 1994, who has also fought back from a knee injury.

Taurua, who suffered her injury during last month's Star Series, was overlooked in favour of 20-year-old Adine Harper, who earned two caps from 15-minute and five-minute stints against the Proteas this week.

It has been a testing comeback mentally for Tairi, after a history of knee problems. In 1994 she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee playing for the Ferns. Three years later, almost to the day, she ripped the same ligament in her left knee.

Then during the Coca-Cola Cup in May a little tear appeared in her right cartilage. It worsened when she stepped off a bus.

"I couldn't believe it. I asked the doctors 'do I walk funny? Should I cut out wearing stilettos?'" Tairi laughed.

"But it's just one of those freak things. It comes down to timing and angles when you land and our sport is so rough on the knees. I used to think I was so resilient when I was young."

Tairi is now up to running on a treadmill, and playing squash and one-on-one basketball with her sisters to strengthen her court moves.

"I should be 100 per cent again in two or three weeks - then I'll have to pace myself because I'll be ready for the world champs and they're still a while away," she said.

Someone had to go from the 12 who beat South Africa - and Waikato policewoman Jenny-May Coffin drew the short straw.

Willering had chosen a team heavy in the midcourt and defence for the Protea series, and opted to drop a midcourter. She was always going to need another shooter for the world championships, after taking just three on tour, and picked Tairi over Taurua.

"Noeline has worked hard to recover, and she will be a very disappointed player, as will Jenny-May," Willering said.

"If I was only taking three shooters then it would have been a gamble to take Adine. But she has time on her side."

New Zealand squad: Belinda Colling (cpt, Otago), Donna Loffhagen (Southland), Adine Harper (Otago), Teresa Tairi (North Harbour), Anna Rowberry (Otago), Sonya Hardcastle (North Harbour), Julie Seymour (Wellington), Lesley Nicol (Otago), Belinda Charteris (Canterbury), Bernice Mene (Southland), Lorna Suafoa (North Harbour), Linda Vagana (North Harbour).