Netball: Heart and soul at stake for top three

By JULIE ASH

Jamaica, Australia or New Zealand - it would take a brave person to bet against one of those teams walking away with netball's greatest prize in Jamaica.

Although leaving Kingston as world champions is the aim of the 24 teams competing in the tournament, for those three there is more at stake.

Australia want a fourth consecutive title.

New Zealand want to make amends for those heartbreaking losses suffered in last year's Commonwealth Games and in the 1999 world championships.

For Jamaica there is an opportunity to claim their first world title.

Success in the tournament has eluded the Silver Ferns for 16 years.

Although they have contested the final eight times in the past 10 world championships, they have won it outright only twice, in 1967 and 1987.

They won jointly with Australia and Trinidad and Tobago in 1979 - a team who included the present Silver Ferns coach, Ruth Aitken.

Going into this tournament, it is hard to imagine the Silver Ferns could be any more prepared. In a bid to improve their chances, several players chose to cut back the hours they worked to allow more time for netball, and in training camps Aitken has left no stone unturned.

The team have been put through their paces in heat chambers, have battled it out against men's teams, and been put through a series of "what if" scenarios to ensure they are ready for anything, whether it be a blackout or double overtime.

In the past year they have beaten South Africa and England twice in test series.

"It is about trusting their preparation, believing in the work they have done, believing in each other and then keeping to the task," Aitken said.

Pooled alongside the Cook Islands, Fiji, England and two qualifiers, the Silver Ferns should have no trouble winning their section.

The most interesting game in pool play sees Australia line up against Jamaica on Thursday. The winner of that match should finish top of their pool, and the runners-up are expected to meet New Zealand in the semis.

While there is no doubt the Australians will be a polished unit, the question is how good are the home side?

New Zealand were lucky to escape with a 2-1 series win when they met Jamaica on their home ground last year, and Australia fell victim to the Caribbean side this year.

"Jamaica are really the unknown quality. Although some of their players are familiar to us, the difference is that when they are at home they are huge," Aitken said.

They are also extremely physical.

"I guess they are more dangerous when you are aerial because they come straight at you. Playing the men was good practice for us. There is no softness about the Silver Ferns' play whatsoever."

Although Jamaica pose a big threat, prising the cup off Australia is going to be a task and a half.

"Australia virtually have the same team as they did in the Commonwealth Games, so we know they are very strong and have been together for a long time."

With six players remaining from the 1999 world championship side, Aitken dismisses suggestions there are flaws in the Australian midcourt after the retirement of Shelley O'Donnell.

Since the two sides met in the Commonwealth Games, the Silver Ferns have undergone several changes. Gone are Donna Loffhagen, Linda Vagana, Daneka Wipiiti, Julie Seymour, Jenny-May Coffin and Anna Veronese.

The strength of the midcourt should be unaffected, with captain Anna Rowberry, Adine Harper and Temepara Clark holding the fort, and Belinda Colling's leadership at goal attack should make up for Loffhagen's absence.

With temperatures expected to be around 30C, Aitken said that alternating players would be vital.

New Zealand's first game is tomorrow at 9.30am against a qualifier.

* Julie Ash will be covering the world championships from next week. She will file daily reports from on and off the court in Jamaica.