By JULIE ASH
The sight of Anna Scarlett's long limbs bolting down the court through a sea of green and gold would have brought a smile - even if it was just a small one - to the face of national coach Ruth Aitken.
Although the New Zealand side may be a
little wanting in the shooting department, the meteoric rise of 21-year-old Scarlett means the defence does not lack firepower. And with Scarlett around, it will be firepower they can count on for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the following year's world championships.
A regular in the New Zealand team since 2002, "Scarlett", as she is known to her team-mates, made the most of her opportunities in the crucial second test and proved she is equally as destructive as long-time New Zealand defenders Vilimaina Davu and Sheryl Scanlan.
She may not have the same imposing stature as Davu or Scanlan, or even New Zealand greats Waimarama Taumaunu and Bernice Mene, but when Scarlett gets those tentacles of hers going, she can rattle even the best of shooters.
"She reminds me of my early coaching days when I first saw the Trinidad and Tobago players reeling out these arms that just kept going and going," Otago Rebels coach Lois Muir has said. "Anna is in that category. "Anyone can have arms and legs like that, but it's the way she uses them."
Those techniques have prompted some criticism.
Scarlett has a tendency to wave her arms around a little too furiously, and often gets pinged for obstruction in her attempts to block the ball.
But on Wednesday, Scarlett, who started the match at goal keep, kept her tentacles in check and put in an almost-faultless performance.
"Over the last couple of years I have worked hard at being a bit more disciplined and so that is something I want to be a part of my game," she said.
"I want to be controlled and play a nice clean game. A lot of it is adjusting to the umpires but I feel like I am in control more."
Considering New Zealand were 1-0 down going into the test and Australia's rampant attack was the contributing factor in their win, the decision to start Scarlett and newcomer Joline Henry instead of Davu and Scanlan was a bold one from Aitken.
With the match tied up at the first break, Davu was introduced and Scarlett moved out to goal defence, where she helped New Zealand out to a 10-goal lead before retiring injured midway through the third quarter.
"We knew we had to step it up a notch we didn't play to our potential at all in that first test," Scarlett said.
"We didn't have the links that we usually do and we didn't connect and get that flow going. So in the second test we wanted to go out there and show what we were made of."
Australia's dismal shooting display was the main reason for their demise, something Scarlett can lay claim to influencing.
"Any player is beatable on the day ... you just need to figure out what it is you need to do."
As for the biffo - which Australian newspapers say New Zealand have brought back into the game - bring it on, says Scarlett.
"In any international game where you are playing for your country there is a lot more passion involved. The physicalness is not something that you experience in every netball game, but when you play Australia there is a lot more on the line."
Anna Scarlett
Born: Karamea, Westport, April 15, 1983
Height: 1.87m
Positions: GD, GK
Caps: 15.
Occupation: Physiotherapy student.
Career highlights
2002: Silver Ferns debut against South Africa.
2002-04: Otago Rebels
2002-04: Otago.
By JULIE ASH
The sight of Anna Scarlett's long limbs bolting down the court through a sea of green and gold would have brought a smile - even if it was just a small one - to the face of national coach Ruth Aitken.
Although the New Zealand side may be a
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