Netball: Ferns' demolition job dazzles Australian coach

NZ 61 Australia 36


As if a 25-goal loss isn't hard enough to stomach. Defeated Australian netball coach Norma Plummer is now admitting that the depth of talent in New Zealand possibly exceeds Australia's.

But she intends to be around to fix it.

"I have never walked away from a coaching stint and unless Netball Australia want to change that I'll be there [at the Commonwealth Games]. I certainly believe we have got it there."

She was expecting a tough response from Australians.

"You could put a gun to your head and shoot yourself but I am going to get up tomorrow morning and have to handle it.

"It is one of those things that comes with coaching. If you don't like the heat, get out."

The Silver Ferns scored their biggest win over Australia in Auckland for a big confidence boost five months from the Games.

Plummer had nothing but praise for the New Zealanders, who at times tore through her side like a steam train.

"The Silver Ferns were sensational.

"They have got the blend of speed and height and the ability to believe in one another and that shows."

In the first quarter it was clear Australia were slightly off key - and the loss of influential captain and goal keep Liz Ellis, who went off with a knee strain seven minutes into the game, didn't help.

Ellis was yesterday diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, putting her in doubt for the Games.

Plummer said the loss of Ellis "unnerved" her side but was no excuse for their performance.

"In the end it is about conviction on court and those players are better skilled than they showed.

"I just think they got extremely nervous when the first quarter didn't work out."

With five months until the Games - "thank God for that," Plummer said - Australia had a lot to work on in all three areas of the court.

The defence struggled to stem the flow into Ferns shooter Irene van Dyk, who shot 41 of her 43 attempts, their midcourt had no answer for fleet-footed Temepara George and Adine Wilson and their shooters ended the match with a poor 73 per cent.

"Australia hasn't been in that position for a long time," Plummer said. She did concede New Zealand were in a healthy position - especially with the crowning of the New Zealand under-21 team as world champions this year.

A trend which has been reversed, with Australia more renowned for their continuous line of quality netballers.

"At the moment New Zealand seems to be coming through with it ... I always knew when I took over the job that we had dropped down with the retirements and injuries ... But it is about building that up."

The Australians left for Jamaica yesterday.

The Silver Ferns follow next Monday.

Silver Fern coach Ruth Aitken said she took great satisfaction from the test victory but said it was "one snapshot in time".

"I don't think it was Australia's best performance out there and I certainly wouldn't be writing them off ... at this point of time because they do have ways of coming back."

Like all coaches Aitken found areas for improvement for her squad included the attacking flow through court and securing more turnovers on defence.

"We need to be able to do both the restrictive type of defence and hunting the intercepts, just to add that variety," she said.

"We need to look to add things to our game and I believe we can do that with the personnel we have got."