Netball: All eyes on Irene

Irene Van Dyk

When it comes to the tough decisions in international netball, it seems all roads still lead back to Irene van Dyk.

The metronomic former South African shooter changed the game for the Silver Ferns when she transferred to New Zealand in 2000, and the fallout was still being felt this week as the transtasman test teams were being announced.

For Ferns coach Ruth Aitken, it meant looking for reinforcements at wing-attack and in the mid-court to protect her side's supply lines to van Dyk.

And for Aussie's straight-shooting Norma Plummer, it meant wasting no time in rushing back tall defender Bianca Chatfield, almost certainly in an attempt to knock the Ferns' ace off her game.

If anyone doubted van Dyk's worth, last June's one-off test at Sydney showcased the potential chaos she still causes for both her side and the opposition.

The Australians adopted the time-honoured strategy of attempting to deny van Dyk the ball, working on the theory that once she'd claimed possession there was little chance of stopping the shot.

Unfortunately for the Ferns, this led to extra attention being paid to New Zealand wing-attack Adine Wilson and centre Temepara George, who were virtually mugged and beaten and later looked like they'd been processed by a combine harvester.

The upshot was that Aitken this week opted to recall Anna Rowberry in an attempt to fortify the New Zealand attack end, a move that led directly to the axing of long-time wing-defence Lesley Rumball, and in all probability the end of her international career.

Playing for South Africa and New Zealand, van Dyk has amassed 128 tests and will next Saturday eclipse the record held by England's Kendra Slawinski to become the world's most-capped netballer.

The test match will also double as a milestone for two other leading Ferns.

Former Fijiian goal-keep Vilimaina Davu will celebrate her 100th test cap, and captain Wilson will play her 50th.

But it is the influence of van Dyk that will cause the most strategy meetings this week, given her uncommonly high conversion rate (she averages over 90 per cent) and her history of causing havoc in Australia's usually cast-iron defence.

"It's a very interesting group; pretty much what we would have predicted," Aitken said this week.

"But the big change, we think, is the recall of Bianca Chatfield at the defence end.

"She's tall, she had a great Commonwealth Bank Cup final for Melbourne Phoenix, and I'm sure she's there because Norma wants more height in that circle defence."

Belinda Colling's recall was also partly attributable to the van Dyk factor, Aitken opting for her experience, composure and cunning ahead of incumbent Anna Senio and other contenders such as Jessica Tuki.

Whatever else Colling brings to the game, her ability to complement van Dyk will surely be seen as extra security for the Ferns' shooting circle, given Jodi Te Huna's tendency towards inconsistency.

Aitken had other options, but the proven combination of van Dyk and Colling was enough to sway the ballot.

"It's a very tight group in all areas of the court this year, and it was no different in the shooting circle," she said. "Anna Senio had a good year but maybe went off the pace a fraction toward the trials. The return of Belinda Colling and her experience and Maria Tutaia's continued development were preferred.

"I think Maria's a step up from development potential now. Her performances at the nationals for Auckland were outstanding, and she really made a difference when she came on for them."

As for the mid-court, Rowberry's full return to fitness provided Aitken with immediate cover available at wing-attack/centre, the area in which Australia targeted so physically in the previous test.

It was another selection governed by the need to supply quality possession to van Dyk and her sidekick, although Aitken conceded that Rowberry's desire to play at pace was not always in the interests of her shooters.

"Certainly the knee has come along very well, and we're delighted in how that's progressed," she said.

"But Anna needs to progress her game, as well. She's got great speed, but she needs to balance that against accuracy and placement."

Translated?

"Please make sure you get the ball into Irene's hands as safely as possible, even if it means you can't pull your showy running pass."