If there was ever a day for Maia Wilson to stand up in the goal shoot bib, it was this one.
A near-perfect showing from Wilson in New Zealand’s 83-34 win over Wales in Group G has settled any panic after confirmation Grace Nweke’sWorld Cup is over.
A tournament-ending knee injury to the Ferns’ primary goal shoot has the country reeling, with echoes of Dan Carter’s 2011 Rugby World Cup exit in pool play lingering in the mind of Kiwi sports fans.
The 1.92-metre shooter was arguably New Zealand’s most important player, a beacon at which the midcourters could fire aerial passes.
But Wilson took the court by storm, firing 49 goals at 100 percent accuracy in an MVP performance; her ANZ Premiership combination with wing attack Gina Crampton evident.
Maia Wilson put in a superb shooting performance against Wales on Monday night. Photo / Getty
If the Silver Ferns were rocked at the news of Nweke’s tournament-ending knee injury, they showed no sign of it early on against the Welsh.
The first quarter started at a frenetic pace, with both sides applying plenty of pressure on defence and making it difficult to find options in the circle.
The Feathers fired a couple of long passes into 1.96-metre shooter Georgia Rowe, but at times were overly reliant on the option due to New Zealand’s strangling defence.
Wales brought plenty of physicality but the Silver Ferns were up to the challenge, forcing seven general play turnovers in the first quarter and 31 for the match.
Wilson and Ameliaranne Ekenasio worked hard to create space in the circle, both shooting at 100 percent to give New Zealand a 19-8 lead after 15 minutes.
For the first time this tournament, Dame Noeline Taurua made no changes at the break. This proved a good decision, as the already gelled Kiwi unit took an 8-nil lead to start the second quarter thanks in-part to an intercept by Karin Burger and deflection by Kate Heffernan.
Heffernan and Crampton were instrumental on attack, firing several bullet passes through to Wilson for quick centre-pass conversion.
Wilson looked unshakeable next to the post, creating space and shooting 29 from 29 by halftime.
The third quarter saw Kelly Jury shifted to wing defence with Jane Watson into goal keep, Burger to goal defence and Whitney Souness replacing Crampton at wing attack.
A very vocal Watson continued right where she left off from the win over Singapore, providing four intercepts and making a nuisance of herself at the back.
Nweke’s replacement - Tiana Metuarau - made her World Cup debut with five minutes to play in the third.
She replaced Ekenasio at goal attack, the smile on her face illustrating the personal significance of representing her country on the biggest stage.
The third quarter was perhaps New Zealand’s best, cleaning up 25-6.
Wilson subbed out in the fourth quarter for Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who backed up her pair of stellar performances against Uganda and Singapore.
Burger and Watson continued to dominate at the defensive end, a season together for the Mainland Tactix showing in the way they combined to force turnovers.
The Silver Ferns polished off the fourth quarter 18-12.
Next for New Zealand are two Group G matches on the same day NZT.
They face South Africa at 4am on Thursday and Jamaica at 9pm that night.
