Joan Hodson: Three obstacles left for Ferns

Three hurdles remain for the Silver Ferns, who are exactly where I expected they would be by now - having to beat their only two rivals for the title on consecutive days.

There have been no surprises, no hiccups for the big guns, so once New Zealand get past Samoa, which they will do today in the quarter-finals, they will tackle the hosts, Jamaica, tomorrow morning.

Assuming they win what will be a fierce challenge, they will face the defending champions, Australia, in Monday's final.

But assuming that the Silver Ferns will get past Jamaica is perhaps pushing the envelope a bit. I believe they will win, but it promises to be a demanding assignment in an electric atmosphere.

I am a big fan of the Jamaicans and their style of play. I played five internationals against them for the Silver Ferns and have umpired their games five or six times.

They are gifted athletes, dynamic and strong in the air, and lovely to watch. I relished playing against them because they made you think about doing things differently from what you would do against an Australian team, or other New Zealand opposition. They challenged you mentally, and for me that's a large part of their appeal.

Their players seem to have telescopic arms which can appear from nowhere to pluck an intercept.

I remember umpiring them when some of their players had been opponents of mine during my Silver Fern days. They would plead with me after I'd made a decision. "Ooh Joooan," they would say, and then shake their heads. Great fun.

The Jamaicans play with huge passion. They have an unpredictable quality about them and are liable to go off the boil at times - although I've never seen that happen against a New Zealand team. They can also lift themselves for the big games.

And make no mistake, for the Jamaicans they don't come any bigger than playing a world championship semifinal before their own adoring fans in Kingston.

What should we make of the Silver Ferns so far? It is difficult to judge where they are at after a string of too-easy wins in the pool play, bar the England match, which was a good test and which - despite a three-goal halftime difference - I always felt we had under control. But generally I like what I've seen.

I have been very disappointed in the performances of the minnows of the championships. I've been surprised how bad some of them have become. It's very difficult, given the format, to get away from those early-game scorelines. It's always been that way and until the international federation restructures the championship, it will remain so.

In that respect netball is no different to the rugby or league World Cups with their lopsided scorelines. It isn't pretty to watch and you wonder what the benefits are for players on both teams.

What has become clear is that there is a distinct top-seven starting lineup for the Silver Ferns: Irene van Dyk and Belinda Colling in the shooting circle, captain Anna Rowberry, Temepara Clark and Lesley Nicol in midcourt and Sheryl Clarke and Vilimaina Davu at the back. They're the seven I tipped before the championship as New Zealand's strongest, and I've seen nothing to change my opinion.

For me, Nicol and Temepara Clark have been the pick of the team. Temepara has put a lot of variety into her passing and she's been looking after her shooters.

Nicol reached her 100th international against Fiji on Thursday and she looks as strong and assertive as ever at wing defence.

Adine Harper has shown she can step in at wing attack for Rowberry, who has had problems with her strained calf. Rowberry is a tough competitor and is sure to start - barring injury - against Jamaica, but it is comforting to know there is a classy replacement.

I do have a concern about how Davu and Sheryl Clarke will handle the high balls delivered into the Jamaican shooting circle. They had problems in that respect against England's tall shooter, Alex Astle. It won't be any easier against Jamaica.

As for our shooters, if I had my way I would have van Dyk concentrating on her body angle to give the feeders every assistance to get the ball to her in position close to the post rather than running around too much in the circle.

There have been grumbles that at times she is not mobile enough. The danger against the best defenders is that if you are moving far from the post you won't get back as the space will be closed off. When you have a shooting record like hers, she can stand still all game as far as I'm concerned, as long as she gives her feeders a good target.

My advice to the Silver Ferns? Keep a cool head, adapt to what is thrown at you and believe in yourselves.

* Joan Hodson, a former Silver Fern and international umpire, coaches the Auckland Diamonds.