Netball: Silver Ferns warned to adapt quickly to robust Aussies

By RICHARD BOOCK

The Silver Ferns are placing an emphasis on tactical appreciation as they prepare for Saturday's first test against Australia.

The opening match of the Fisher & Paykel series will reignite the battle for world supremacy between netball's top two sides, who have each managed to topple the other in the past 10 months.

New Zealand beat Australia 52-40 in a one-off test last December and 60-55 in Melbourne four months ago, before being brought back to earth with a 10-goal loss at Sydney a week later.

The Sydney test was notable not only for the robust and physical nature of proceedings, but for Australia's chameleon-like defensive strategy - which helped to create a match-winning break midway through the showdown.

Traditionally a close-marking, one-on-one defensive side, Australia blew the Ferns out of the game at Sydney after taking them on at their own zone, or off-marking game.

New Zealand captain Bernice Mene said yesterday that it was clear Australia were willing to chop and change their defence to best advantage, and that her side would need to be alert to counter the threat.

"They deviated from their normal style and played a type of space-marking defence against us in Sydney," said Mene, after the New Zealand squad had completed a video analysis session in Wellington yesterday.

"We'll be looking to adjust more quickly and to be aware of their defensive variations - because we can't afford to be breaking down against a side such as Australia.

"When we play that style against them, they try to nullify the threat by letting the ball go and I think we need to embrace that.

"The speed of the ball will win out in the end."

When the previous three-test series between the transtasman rivals was staged in 1998, the visiting Australians won all three by an average of eight goals, and a year later pipped the Ferns by one in the world championship final.

Although the winning margins since then have all been relatively wide, the difference between the sides has been minimal, and has led to some extraordinary tussles in all areas of the court.

The rivalry was clearly evident during the last showdown in Sydney, which presented another opportunity to dust off that old sporting line, "I went to watch a fight last night and some netball broke out ... "

Players were constantly receiving medical treatment from collisions; Donna Loffhagen called the Australian's approach "over the top," and Irene van Dyk was at one stage pole-axed while trying to receive a pass in the circle.

Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering has warned her players to expect similar tactics this time around.

"It's one thing to talk about, but it's another to actually experience it, and a lot of players have now experienced it and got a bit of a shock when the situation occurred.

"Now it's no longer a shock. They know it's going to happen and it's time for them to react accordingly," she said.

Australia arrive in Wellington today to prepare for the test, with captain Kathryn Harby-Williams pouring cold water on suggestions that her side was resorting to rough-house tactics.

"It was just a typical New Zealand-Australia test match," she said of the Sydney contest. "The teams are obviously evenly matched, but if one of them gets on top of their game, it's very difficult for the other to play catch-up."

* Two of the three venues are sold out.

There are no tickets left for Wellington's 3700-capacity Queen's Wharf Events Centre on Saturday night, and the 4500 seats at Stadium Southland in Invercargill sold quickly for the second test next Wednesday.

There are still tickets available for the third test on October 27 in Christchurch.