The Silver Ferns will be hoping that history does not repeat when they square off against South Africa in the first test on Friday.
The touring South Africans were put through their paces by former New Zealand coach Yvonne Willering in Auckland yesterday after the arrival of theircoach was delayed a day.
The last time Willering worked with the South Africans was in 1995, when they used her tactical advice to good effect, stunning New Zealand in the semifinal of the world championships in Birmingham.
Although the tourists are not expected to upset the apple cart in the back-to-back tests on Friday and Saturday, the memory of the loss seven years ago should prevent any complacency in the home camp.
Just six of the South Africans - captain Martha Mosoahle, Bronwyn Bock-Jonathan, Adele Jonker, Martha Machoga, Tanya Pelcher and Liezel Wium - were at this year's Commonwealth Games tournament in Manchester.
For all that, the Silver Ferns can hardly claim much of the upper hand, considering they have not yet picked a captain, let alone a team, and half their established players have retired over the past year.
To make matters worse the 18-strong squad, which was reduced to 17 with the withdrawal of Julie Seymour, shrank to 16 yesterday with the defection of young shooter Daneka Wipiiti.
Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said Wipiiti had asked for some time out and had not joined the squad.
She would not be considered for the 12 to play against the South Africans.
Aitken intends naming her test side and her new captain tomorrow.
