Netball: Back to the drawing board

In the attack Adine Wilson and others struggled to connect with shooters as the Australian defence worked to choke moves, leading to some disappointing turnovers. Picture / Mark Mitchell

The Silver Ferns' brains trust could be facing their toughest challenge yet going into tonight's must-win test against Australia in Auckland.

Since Ruth Aitken and Leigh Gibbs took over the coaching reigns in 2001, the Silver Ferns have played Australia 14 times and lost just five games.

The last was the four-goal loss in Wellington on Thursday night.

The 10-goal defeat in the second test in July remains the Silver Ferns' biggest loss to Australia in Aitken's reign.

With the latest loss, the Ferns' coaching duo have been forced back to the drawing board.

The match proved Australia now have a lineup that can match New Zealand's top seven.

The worrying thing is that the Australian lineup is relatively new and probably still building steam.

The Silver Ferns are well established and vastly experienced. The challenge for Aitken and Gibbs is taking them up to another level.

"We have to ensure that we pick ourselves up," Aitken said.

"It goes to show the gap between the two countries is very small and we have to be at our best."

With three tests in just five days Aitken and Gibbs have their work cut out.

Aitken said the time constraint meant they could address only the key issues - the side's lack of flow on attack, their movement in the shooting circle and their tentativeness on defence.

"In a situation where you have got a short turn-around, most of it is attitudinal ... you are not going to change a player's skills but you can turn around that single minded desire and determination to do it despite everything."

The Silver Ferns were choked by the Australians' suffocating defence in the second half, especially around their shooting circle where captain Adine Wilson and Temepara George struggled to connect with shooters Maria Tutaia and Irene van Dyk.

Their hesitancy led to disappointing turnovers because they were at their best when they moved the ball.

Defensively they struggled to contain the lively Australian attack. Although wing defence Laura Langman and George pulled off some wonderful intercepts, the Australians were able to move the ball in and around the shooting circle easily.

New Zealand used all four of their defenders but none managed to snuff Australian shooting ace Sharelle McMahon and Susan Pratley.

"Our defence was not as effective as we'd have liked and we're still toying with different combinations," Aitken said.

The New Zealanders did not receive any favours from the umpires. However, Aitken said that could not be used as an excuse.

Jamaica's Dalton Hinds and South Africa's Maggie du Plessis umpired the first test.

Jamaica's Chris Campbell is also in New Zealand and could be used in tonight's game.

"We did not adjust to the number of calls that went against us and I think we got a bit down with that," Aitken said.

Although it is difficult to find something positive about a loss, Aitken said she was happy with the performance of young shooter Maria Tutaia and her side's midcourt defence.

"We just have to play with a lot more confidence and let the ball go," Aitken said.


Testing times

New Zealand v Australia
* First test: Australia 51 New Zealand 47.
* Second test: Trusts Stadium, Waitakere 7.45 tonight.
* Third test: Christchurch 7.45pm Monday.