KEY POINTS:
Goal shoot Irene van Dyk's indifferent performance is a symptom rather than the cause of New Zealand's second loss in England in 48 hours, says the Silver Fern star's coach in domestic competition.
The Silver Ferns lost 50-47 to Australia in Birmingham, two days after losing 50-45 to England for the first time in 32 years.
Despite a vastly improved performance from the Ferns - the scores were tied at 41-41 midway through the final quarter - Australia pulled away to secure the win.
Former international Noeline Taurua said yesterday van Dyk's performance could not be isolated from that of the rest of the team.
Taurua coaches van Dyk's Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic team in the domestic National Bank Cup.
"Being a goal shoot, you're the last line of attack and that's where everything's concentrated on," she said.
"With Irene, as with others, there are individual errors happening at critical times. But it's not just one person.
"Everyone's highlighting Irene, but she's only one person at that attacking end.
"Their whole links just aren't working very well, their timing is out and they've got some areas of concern at that end."
Taurua said yesterday's test highlighted the midcourt shortcomings that have dogged the Silver Ferns on and off over the years.
"They're wanting a bit in that area. As has happened in the past, especially against Australia, they're getting themselves quite wide so there's no one attacking or dominating the top of the circle."
New Zealand needed to look closely at the midcourt, and consider what options were available to them in captain Adine Wilson's wing attack position.
"I do think there needs to be another option in the wing attack role," Taurua said.
She said the combination between van Dyk and goal attack Maria Tutaia was developing well.
"The good thing about Maria in that circle is that she's relieving the pressure.
"New Zealand have two shooters who are pretty much putting up the same amount of shots. That's excellent - the defence can't concentrate on one person, which is what England did."
Tutaia sank 21 from 28 attempts yesterday and van Dyk was accurate with 26 from 34, a lower success rate than usual, mainly because she attempted more long shots than usual.
Taurua said it was interesting that van Dyk was putting up shots from distance.
"There are positives in that she had a go at it but there's also negatives, in that's not what her strength is. Her strength is tight play, holding underneath the post and making sure she holds strongly."
The Silver Ferns showed character in battling back from an unimpressive start, but after trailing 17-12 at the end of the first quarter they were always playing catch-up.
Coach Ruth Aitken pulled ineffective goal defence Anna Scarlett off after one quarter, and replacement Joline Henry's combination with goal keep Casey Williams played a big part in New Zealand cutting the deficit to 24-22 at halftime.
Taurua said it was pleasing to see the way Williams and Henry - key components in her Magic team - worked together.
"They worked for each other, which was different from the first quarter.
"It's a bit worrying the first combination in defence let Australia out by five points.
"I guess the positive is that New Zealand did came back, but it just meant it was always going to be catch-up netball and in an international match, that's difficult."
Temepara George came on for starting centre Julie Seymour for the final 30 minutes, but the Silver Ferns' inconsistencies in feeding the circle continued, as did errors at crucial times.
It was those individual errors that needed to be eliminated if New Zealand wanted to defend their world championship title in Auckland in November, Taurua said.
"They've got to improve on those sloppy individual errors that are happening right throughout the court.
"Three points is not that much, it still could go either way and they're definitely still in there."
Australian captain Liz Ellis said the manner of the victory provided "a massive amount of confidence" before the world championships, and added to the series victory in New Zealand last October.
- NZPA
