Netball: Colling's injury means van Dyk likely to be selected

By RICHARD BOOCK

Irene van Dyke seems poised to become one of the few new faces in the Silver Ferns squad for the one-off netball test against Australia.

With New Zealand goal-attack Belinda Colling in doubt after a knee operation, the former South African's availability has solved one dilemma for selector-coach Yvonne Willering, and the only other major task involves finding a replacement for retired mid-courter Sonya Hardcastle Hardcastle essentially provided cover for Anna Rowberry, Julie Seymour and Leslie Nicol at last year's world championships and, presuming the selectors decide to retain a 12-strong squad this season, is likely to be replaced by either Jenny-May Coffin or Temepara George for the Australian test.

Despite playing in the Coca-Cola Cup's least successful team, Coffin has been in strong form for the Magic and was singled out last week for an outstanding effort against the Shakers, while George has consistently impressed during the Force's push for a semifinals berth.

Both are members of Willering's national training squad and both can lend their hand to wing-attack, which could be significant given that the only existing cover is courtesy of goal-attack Adine Harper or regular centre Seymour.

If New Zealand's defence at last year's world championships was their strongest feature, the least convincing was their attacking and shooting combinations, which fluctuated between good and ordinary for 10 days and eventually cost the team the ultimate prize.

In that regard, the recent loss of Colling could have been a serious problem if it was not for the coincidental availability of van Dyk, whose probable inclusion may well create New Zealand's most dangerous shooting combination since the days of Tracey Shortland and Julie Carter.

Presuming Colling cannot regain fitness in time for the test at Newcastle on June 20, van Dyk looks certain to team up in the shooting circle with Donna Loffhagen, who has been impressing at goal-attack for the Coca-Cola Cup defending champions, the Sting.

Loffhagen, who last month sparked a lively debate on elegibility rules after criticising the law which allowed van Dyk to become available for New Zealand, missed the last-second shot which would have won the world championship final for her side last year, but remains the country's leading "domiciled" shooter.

Willering said yesterday that van Dyk would be considered for selection with all other available players, and was not about to enter a discussion on whether the rule needed to be changed.

"I've received [from Netball New Zealand] a list of available players - which includes Irene - and that's all I'm interested in, really," she said. "It's not up to me to change or talk about changing the rules. I just work within them."

The Ferns coach hinted that unforced changes were unlikely and could not confirm whether she would name a 10 or a 12-strong squad, but said she was encouraged by the closeness of the Coca-Cola Cup competition and its likely affect on her test contenders.

"We're better prepared than we were last year, but we have to be further advanced because this is a one-off test and it's crucial that we're on top of our game when it counts.

"The Coca-Cola Cup has been a great success. It's been keenly supported and keenly contested, and as a result, our top players are being placed under pressure more often - which is a healthy development."