Netball: Tough to make side off bench

Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu. Photo / Richard Robinson.

Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu admits bench-sitting ANZ Championship players will have a tough time forcing their way into the Commonwealth Games squad.

Although Australia confirmed their line-up for the Glasgow tournament this week, the New Zealand selectors will hold off until the end of the regular season before naming their 12-strong squad, allowing the players every opportunity to prove their worth.

Over the past couple of years the national programme has invested in the development of fringe players such as Mystics' shooter Bailey Mes and the Pulse's Katarina Cooper, who had been rarely sighted in the ANZ Championship. Despite catching the eye of the national selectors the pair still have not had a lot of court time at franchise level this season, making it difficult for Taumaunu to justify their selection for Glasgow.

Taumaunu said she is disappointed to see national players sitting on the bench, but it is ultimately up to them to force their way on to the court.

"I think it is more frustrating for them. We'd like to see them [out on court], but I know they really want to play," said Taumaunu.

"I guess we're still looking at them [for the Commonwealth Games team], but it doesn't make it easy for selection to compete against those who are getting the court time."

Of the players Taumaunu has sighted this season, she said many were slow to get up to full speed, but is pleased with where they sit now.

"I think pretty much all of the squad members can be satisfied with a growing proportion of their games. A couple of them started pretty quietly but seem to be getting into the business end now. There will be some tough selection decisions to make, but we'll just see how it pans out because over the past couple of years we have been affected by injuries."

After a couple of lean years, Taumaunu said is most pleased with the depth in the midcourt. With former Fern Grace Rasmussen showing renewed confidence in her game at the Magic, and returning mum Liana Leota making a late play for a Commonwealth Games spot, incumbents Camilla Lees (Pulse), Shannon Francois (Steel) and Courtney Tairi (Magic) are facing stiff competition to retain their spots.

The national selectors will get a chance to compare the form of Rasmussen, Tairi and Francois in Monday night's key match-up between the Steel and Magic.

With the table-topping Vixens on a bye weekend, a win in Invercargill will send the Magic to the top of the table, despite a couple of quiet games over the past two weeks.

The other local match-up this weekend will see the Tactix take on the Pulse in Nelson.