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Home / Sport / Netball / Silver Ferns

<i>Julie Ash:</i> Let the fun begin

By Julie Ash
8 Nov, 2007 04:00 PM5 mins to read

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KEY POINTS:

Anna Rowberry casting the ball into the air as the final whistle sounded is one of the lasting images of the 2003 world netball championships.

After 16 years, the Rowberry-captained Silver Ferns had finally ended Australia's stranglehold on the world trophy, winning 49-47.

The Silver Ferns success was
a combination of lessons learnt from past failures, a confident 12-women squad and an awful lot of mental and physical preparation.

Whether the Silver Ferns have got those ingredients in place again this time we will know by next Saturday.

Sixteen teams will line up in the 12th world netball championships in Auckland.

The title has only ever been won by three teams - New Zealand, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago - who shared the title with the other two in 1979.

It will be the third time New Zealand have hosted the tournament following 1975 and 1999. This time it was by default after the political coup in Fiji saw Suva lose their hosting rights.

New Zealand have never won the title on home soil. The closest they came was in 1999 when they lost by that heart-wrenching one goal in Christchurch.

Achieving success this time is going to be a big ask.

While the New Zealand team is still grappling to produce a starting seven following the loss of instrumental centre Temepara George, Australia and England roar into the tournament with oodles of confidence.

Australia have strength in all areas of the court and have made huge inroads into developing a strong bench.

England, who are coached by former Australian shooter Marg Caldow, are the big improvers in international netball.

The English have, at last, developed a strong attacking line which is capable of rattling the hardest of opponents.

Luckily for New Zealand who were beaten by England for the the first time in 32 years this year, the English are on the other side of the draw so are likely to face Australia in the semifinals.

The match will be an interesting coaching encounter between two old Australian teammates in Caldow and Norma Plummer - both of whom are showiing plenty of confidence.

Rounding out the top four is likely to be Jamaica.

With their unorthodox style, towering players and dogged nature, the Jamaicans, coached by former goal attack Connie Francis could knock over one of the big teams at any stage.

While Jamaica are somewhat of a bogey team for Australia, Francis said it is the Silver Ferns she fears most.

The top four aside, other teams to keep an eye on are Samoa, coached by former Silver Fern Linda Vagana, and Malawi who have no concerns about throwing the ball to each team member 16 times before they even contemplate having a shot at goal.

Singapore, who are coached by New Zealander Kate Carpenter coach of Central in next year's Tasman Trophy, might also be worth watching along with Fiji, featuring Vilimaina Davu.

Adapting to the different styles of umpiring will be as much of a challenge for the teams as the varying styles of their opponents.

But until the rest of the world develops umpires as competent as New Zealand and Australia then inconsistencies are something the players have to rise above.

With three prominent New Zealand teams (the Black Caps, Team New Zealand and the All Blacks) failing this year, the Silver Ferns have the weight of the nation on their shoulders.

But while their male counterparts revel in the trappings of professional sport, the Silver Ferns are more reminiscent of New Zealand teams of the past.

They will not be pampered, holed up in a swanky hotel or give their pay packets a second thought.

The Silver Ferns put on the black uniform for the love of the game.

Succeeding in this tournament will be tough.

That cannot be emphasised enough.

While New Zealand has enjoyed a long period at the top of world netball - in the last few months things have not quite gone to plan.

In the past year they have lost three key players - Belinda Colling, Davu and George - and have struggled against Australia who appear to have gelled at the right time.

But as the rugby World Cup has shown, anything can happen in tournaments like this. A slightly wayward performance can lead to an early exit.

While the New Zealand public have every right to feel unsure, one must have faith in the coaching staff of Ruth Aitken and Leigh Gibbs who took the Silver Ferns from bridesmaids to brides.

They have won 51 of their last 62 tests.

While the New Zealand team are quite young overall - in their ranks they have three exciting players in Casey Williams, Maria Tutaia and Laura Langman if she is fit.

This tournament is theirs for the taking.

In times of uncertainty it always nice to hear from those who have been there before.

"This could be a great team," said Lois Muir, the matriarch of New Zealand Netball.

"We won a world championshipin Jamaica and won it well - Idon't see too much has changed since then."

Let's hope not.

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