Netball: Taumaunu off to finish the job

Waimarama Taumaunu. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A new era in the longstanding transtasman netball rivalry will begin this weekend when the familiar foes meet under the guidance of unfamiliar leaders.

The Silver Ferns will face Australia for the first time since July's world championship final when the Constellation Cup series resumes in Perth on Sunday. The split series, which began in June in the lead-up to the Singapore final, is tied at one game each.

But it will be up to new coaches to try to finish the job their predecessors started.

Former Adelaide Thunderbirds assistant Lisa Alexander has taken charge of the world champions after Norma Plummer stepped down following Australia's victory in Singapore, while Waimarama Taumaunu has been elevated to the Silver Ferns' top job.

The tactical joust between the two new coaches has added extra spice to the opening test, though the minds of Kiwi sporting fans will be elsewhere on Sunday.

Taumaunu said taking on an Australian side with a new coach at the helm will provide an added challenge.

"Certainly for me and I'm sure for Lisa there's going to be quite an element [of] sizing each other up ... " she said.

Thrust into the hot seat earlier than expected after Aitken was forced to withdraw from the series, Taumaunu spent Monday hastily outlining her vision for the programme before the team jumped on a plane to Perth yesterday.

"I've inherited a programme and I feel comfortable with that programme is about the best answer I can give at this stage," said Taumaunu.

"The proof will be in the pudding on Sunday I guess."

With limited time on the training court before Sunday's opening test, Taumaunu said she has had to prioritise areas to work on in the build-up.

The former Silver Ferns captain has highlighted the midcourt as the area of the court most in need of sharpening up following the 2-0 series win over England earlier in the month.

"It's around our conversion rate off the centre pass, and our centre pass defence.

"So it's that middle bit really, which is always important, but from the analysis of the England series it wasn't quite at the same level as the other parts of the game for this team."

The Diamonds will also be aiming for a much-improved performance against the Ferns after a mixed series against England. While the Australians claimed a 3-0 series clean sweep, they were extremely disappointed with their last outing, in which they scraped past the woefully understrength English by only four goals.

The inconsistent performance across the series made it difficult to get a gauge of where the Australians are at, but New Zealand captain Laura Langman said they have to prepare to face a Diamonds side at their best.

"Watching the games there were passages there that really show the potential of the Australian team, so they're the patches you want to pay attention to."

From Perth, the series moves to Adelaide and then Melbourne for games on October 26 and 30.

Silver Ferns v Australia
* Sunday, October 23 - Burswood Dome, Perth.
* Wednesday, October 26 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide.
* Sunday, October 30 - Hisense Arena, Melbourne.