Netball: Ferns get Aussies' votes

Natalie von Bertouch, left, tries to keep the Silver Ferns' Laura Langman at bay in Sydney in July. Chris McGrath / Getty Images

It's 1-1 heading into the final series between the Silver Ferns and Australia before the world championships. Julie Ash asked former Australian players Vicki Wilson, Peta Scholz and Kathryn Harby-Williams to analyse their areas of court and look at how the two sides will match up in three tests next week.

Vicki Wilson - former goal shoot

* On Australia

Australia's speed and flow into their shooters in the second test was a contributing factor in their success. After struggling to find a way through the New Zealand defence in the first test, three days later the Australian attack - in which Sharelle McMahon and Susan Pratley teamed at goal shoot and goal attack and the von Bertouch sisters, Laura and Natalie, at wing attack and centre - barged through with ease.

"In that first game I think the midcourt struggled and we didn't get good circle position," Wilson says. "In that second test they had a terrific link with their shooters and their timing was spot on. Pratley and Sharelle were able to find a bit of space, and with that, speed on the approach to the ball.

"Natalie played a great centre's game. Her timing when to enter that goal third was very good. Sharelle did a lot of work coming out of the circle.

"She led out of the circle quite often but she didn't run into a charging von Bertouch coming down court. With the midcourt doing their job it allows Sharelle to concentrate on her job and not play every position when she plays at goal attack."

Pratley performed well at goal attack but Wilson believes McMahon is more damaging in the position.

"I believe Catherine Cox and McMahon have a lot to offer - they can be very creative and have so much flair."

* On New Zealand

Leana de Bruin was "awesome" in the first test with Vilimaina Davu at goal keep but in the second game was found wanting.

"She was found chasing and the same with [Anna] Scarlett, perhaps a bit of a lack of discipline and poor decision making. The line they played with Langman, George at centre, de Bruin and Davu [in the first test], that was spot on and hard yakker for the Aussies - they just closed it down.

"Langman is deadly at wing defence but when she moved into centre [in the second test] I thought it took a little bit of a zip out of her defensive game. She was concentrating on attacking. You could see it on her face."

Wilson says a weakness for Australia is their size in the midcourt.

"We are small. We can't get up and over New Zealand's hands so our pace is going to have to be spot on along with timing. That is what the Kiwis have done well. They have got great athletes with a great span on them and a good range. They just crowd the space."

* Verdict

"I think New Zealand will probably take this series but not easily."


Peta Scholz - former wing defence

* On Australia

"Laura [von Bertouch] has brought a lot of pace into our midcourt, which I think is really crucial for the Australian team to be successful. Maybe we have been lacking that.

"With van Dyk the playmaker for the Silver Ferns the challenge for the Australians is to prevent the ball getting to her, which means hassling Adine Wilson and Temepara George.

With the side lacking in goal defenders, Selina Gilsenan is likely to be given the task of marking Wilson with Mo'onia Gerrard at goal defence. Mo'onia and Selina play totally different games.

"Mo'onia is pretty physical whereas Selina hangs off a bit and can pick off those intercepts that others can't quite get. You just really need to stick with Adine. She is very fast. You just need to hassle her and try to force errors."

Another challenge the Australians have to contend with is New Zealand's midcourt zone.

Scholz believes speed is the best way to counteract it.

"Laura and Natalie [von Bertouch] are great in those positions to be able to do that."

* On New Zealand

"Temepara is such a great player, she has the physical aspect to her game and she dives for everything. Adine is very fast. Laura has been playing well, too. There are going to be great matchups.

* Verdict

"It will be a physical game as they always are - and little will separate them."


Kathryn Harby-Williams - former defender

* On Australia

"Over the past 12 months or so the Australian defence end is stronger than it has been in recent times. It has been strengthened by the addition of Julie Prendergast, an exciting player who gives [Australian coach] Norma [Plummer] another option.

"I think the [Mo'onia] Gerard and [Liz] Ellis combination is one that is worth developing. Mo'onia is one of those roaming players and Liz is the thinker who can back her up. I know Mo'onia doesn't have the height but Liz is as good a match against Irene as anyone. Julie will probably have a go at goal keep but you are compromising Liz's talent by putting her at goal defence."

Australia lack goal defenders which offsets New Zealand's lack of goal attacks.

Harby-Williams says the performance of the Australian defence in the second test offered her some hope.

"There weren't that many easy balls for the Ferns to get in the circle so I just think they have started to mark up a lot better."

* On New Zealand

"There is a lot of pressure on Maria Tutaia. Sure she came on in that first test and had a dream debut but then reality hit in that second game. People expect her to go on and continue to carry the hopes of the Silver Ferns on her shoulders.

"Let's remember she hasn't played a huge amount of netball at that level. If she is not performing, they are in trouble at goal attack. If you put Tania Dalton there, her and Irene are reasonably immobile, so that might work in the Aussies' favour."

If Tutaia is performing, Harby-Williams reckons her former side will struggle. "The beauty with Maria is it doesn't matter where she is, she is willing to put that shot up. I think the Aussies will be hoping because of her youth and lack of experience they can muscle up on her and hope she doesn't start off confidently.

"In the past it has always been double-teaming Irene. When Belinda Colling was there, you'd rather her be shooting from the edge of the circle than Irene, so you could compromise manning up against Belinda. But Maria makes it difficult for the Aussies. If she is on, you can't pay that much attention to Irene and therefore that combination is very dangerous."

But van Dyk's height will always be a problem for the Aussies. "If she was not there, it would be a whole different ball game. If they're feeding is on to Irene then no matter how good you are, there is nothing [that can be done]. That is the secret to the Silver Ferns' success."

* Verdict

"I think it will be 2-1 probably to the Ferns."