Netball: Silver Ferns determined not to let world dictate netball terms

By RICHARD BOOCK

The Silver Ferns are expecting the unexpected in tonight's opening netball test against the World Selection.

Notwithstanding the two comprehensive wins over Team Pasifika, New Zealand are on red alert as they prepare to meet an invitation side of unknown quantity at Wellington's Queens Wharf Events Centre.

Stacked with some of the best players from Australia, Jamaica, England and South Africa, the World Seven will start the three-match series with nothing to lose, in stark contrast to Yvonne Willering's much-scrutinised New Zealand lineup.

Whatever creases were ironed out against Pasifika, the memory of New Zealand's recent collapse against Australia still remains a huge setback, to the extent that a repeat performance could leave Willering on thin ice in terms of her coaching future.

"It's going to be a whole different ball game," Willering said of the World Seven. "We know them as individuals and we can analyse their players, but we really have no idea about how they will come together as a team. More than anything, they're an unknown quantity.

"They don't have a collective reputation at stake as we do, and we understand that - that's the situation and we've got to deal with it. If you wear the silver fern you want to win. Simple as that."

New Zealand might not have been seriously threatened by Pasifika, but they at least received a much-needed chance to work on their attacking combinations, and in that regard look in slightly better shape as they head into tonight's match.

The biggest question hanging over their starting lineup concerns whether Willering will opt for Anna Rowberry or Temepara George at wing attack, something which is destined to remain a mystery until just before the opening whistle - given the coach's reluctance to discuss the matter.

New Zealand's mid-court performance was singled out as the main problem against Australia, although Willering suggested yesterday that integrating the new shooting personnel had been a mitigating factor in the breakdown.

"It's not easy when you've got a new shooter in Irene [van Dyk] and Adine [Harper] coming into the team as well," Willering said.

"The mid-court is experienced, but they haven't actually played with this attacking combination before. Everyone's been going on about the mid-court, but you've got to keep that in perspective. We've got a new feeding combination, it's going to take time to adjust."

The world side might have questions hanging over their ability to blend as a team, but they still showed enough combination to knock over the New Zealand under-21 side 50-36 and 55-43 this week..

With shooting stars like Elaine Davis, Alex Astle and Sharelle McMahon at one end of the court, and defensive giants such as Liz Ellis, Kathryn Harby and Vilimaina Davu at the other, they have the ability to put the Ferns under genuine pressure for the first time at home this season.

New Zealander defender Belinda Charteris, who celebrated her 50th test on Thursday night, said yesterday that there had been a definite lift in tempo as the Wellington international approached.

New Zealand: Bernice Mene (capt), Linda Vagana, Belinda Charteris, Anna Veronese, Lesley Nicol, Julie Seymour, Anna Rowberry, Temepara George, Adine Harper, Irene van Dyk, Tania Nicholson.

World Selection: Kathryn Harby (capt), Liz Ellis, Sharelle McMahon, Shelley O'Donnell (Australia), Alex Astle, Tracey Neville, Helen Lonsdale, Olivia Murphy, Amanda Newton (England), Elaine David (vice-capt), Nadine Bryan (Jamaica), Rosena Magola, Leana Du Plooy (South Africa), Vilimaina Davu (Fiji).