Netball: Silver Ferns wary of 'Aussie style' for England tests

By RICHARD BOOCK

The focus might have switched to the touring England side, but the Silver Ferns remain suspicious of the Australian influence as they prepare for the first test in Invercargill on July 7.

Having escaped with the Tri-Nations silverware after winning one test and losing the other against the world champions this month, New Zealand now face an England side who have not only made giant strides, but are also guided by one of the best Australian coaches in the business.

Julie Hoornweg, who left her job as Australian coaching director to steer Fiji to sixth place in the 1999 world championships, has promised the Ferns a tough series next month - something which her New Zealand counterpart, Yvonne Willering, is not taking lightly.

"We're expecting them [England] to be strong and well-prepared," Willering said yesterday. "Several of the players were here in 1999, others have played in our domestic competitions, and there were a couple out here with last season's World Seven, so it's not exactly unfamiliar territory for them.

"The thing we're interested in is how much influence Julie has had on this side - whether her Australian background has rubbed off on the team, or whether they've been able to retain their own style.

Willering was impressed with Hoornweg's efforts as coach of Fiji, saying she was highly regarded in Australia and respected worldwide for her ability to get the best out of a side.

England, who played half-a-dozen warm-up games in Australia before arriving in New Zealand on Wednesday, square off against the Ferns at Stadium Southland on July 7. They then head to Palmerston North for the second test on July 11, and Hamilton for the third test on July 14.

The tourists will put the final touches to their first-test preparations with matches against New Zealand A in Queenstown, although it is doubtful that anything will prepare them for the parochial hotbed of Invercargill.

The Ferns will also shake down for the first test with two games against New Zealand A in Queenstown.

Willering said there was plenty of work ahead if the squad were to overcome the England challenge.

"They'll be different from Australia, but the question we're asking ourselves is, 'How different?'

"England's definitely on the improve. They've poured money into the sport; they've acquired a number of top-quality support staff, and they've made winning the next world championship title their goal. They certainly look focussed on that assignment.

"We perhaps don't expect them to be as fast as Australia or as quick to use the one-handed pass. I doubt it will be as physical.

"But they have a good core of experience and will play to their strengths, and we'll need to have all our bases covered."

Willering said the different opposition would mean subtle and not-so-subtle changes to the way the Ferns approached the series. She suggested there could be some alterations to the timing of the defence, as well as some further development on attack.

Her plan to give Belinda Colling and Donna Loffhagen a half each in the Tri-Nations tests against Australia seemed to work well enough in the first match at Melbourne. But it was possibly ill-advised in the re-match at Sydney, where Colling's resilience and distribution skills were badly missed after the break.

There might also be a temptation to explore the options in the New Zealand mid-court, which appeared to labour against Australia's defensive screen at Sydney, forcing the Ferns shooters to exist on scrappy and inferior quality possession.

"Things will have to change a little, at least," Willering said. "Defensively, we'll have to adjust to how we go about our task, and on attack we'd like to try different things as well.

"We can't wait to get to Invercargill. We've seen the support the Sting players get down there and it's going to be great for the others to find that backing behind them for a change."