By SHARON LUNDY
Australia's refusal to play the Silver Ferns in the build-up to this year's world championships is bad for the public and bad for the game, says New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken.
She has spent the past week preparing her side for the three-test series against England, and while
pleased to have the competition, she would also like to have played Australia.
However, Australia will not play ball before the championships, in Jamaica next month.
"I think it would be wonderful if we had an opportunity to play them more than just once in these big years.
"But at the moment they're in the driving seat of believing that they've got the upper hand in terms of they've had the wins over us, so they don't want to give us any more practice, thank you very much," Aitken said.
"I don't think it's good for the game. The public just love the New Zealand-Australia clashes, and the thought that the only time we met last year was in Manchester [Commonwealth Games] and the only time we meet this year will be in Jamaica, I just think does a disservice to the public, who would love to see them in the flesh.
"We'll have to start getting a few more wins ... against them and then they might change their mind."
Her thoughts were echoed by Silver Fern Lesley Nicol, who is poised to become New Zealand's most-capped player during the series against England.
"For us, in terms of our ultimate build-up, it would have been even better if we could have played Australia," Nicol said.
"But they don't want to play us, so you can't do much about that."
- NZPA
