By RICHARD BOOCK
Silver Ferns boss Ruth Aitken has moved quickly to address defensive concerns following the loss of a trio of seasoned internationals.
Having watched Bernice Mene, Linda Vagana and Belinda Charteris leave over the past year, Aitken revealed her thoughts on the depth of potential replacements on Saturday night, when
she named her 18-strong training squad.
Although Vilimaina Davu and Sheryl Clarke filled the gap admirably during the Commonwealth Games campaign, there were questions over who else would be groomed for the responsibility, and whether anyone was putting up her hand.
As it was, Aitken did not hesitate to draft in Otago's spring-heeled young defender Anna Scarlett and former South African and Wellington goal-keep Leana du Plooy.
Scarlett, earmarked as one of the big movers in New Zealand netball, appears an indomitable spirit and, if the number of complaints from opposition coaches is anything to go by, a good player to have in your side.
The other newcomers to the squad were Waikato mid-court Amigene Metcalfe, praised by Aitken for her quickness, and shooter Jodi Te Huna, who should go some way to filling the void left by the loss of Donna Loffhagen and Tania Dalton.
The squad will come together next month for two days of trials, another Aitken initiative, after which a 12-strong team will be named to play South Africa on November 1 and 2.
Other features of the squad were the retention of Commonwealth Games discards Victoria Edward, Adine Harper and Temepara Clark.
Aitken said the entire squad would assemble before the start of the South African series so the selectors and management could launch a highly organised buildup not just for those tests but also for next year's world championships.
"The immediate focus will be the tests against South Africa but the long-term plan is to have everyone working on their tasks throughout the summer and preparing for that world championship tournament in Jamaica."
New Zealand squad: Temepara Clark (Counties Manukau), Sheryl Clarke, Amigene Metcalfe, Jenny-May Coffin, Victoria Edward (Waikato), Belinda Colling, Vilimaina Davu, Anna Rowberry, Julie Seymour, Anna Veronese, Jodi Te Huna (Canterbury), Adine Harper, Anna Scarlett, Lesley Nicol, Angela Evans (Otago), Daneka Wipiiti (Netball North), Leana du Plooy, Irene van Dyk (Wellington).
