Netball: Ferns look to plug gap

Leana de Bruin will need to be at her defensive best in Perth against the Diamonds. Photo / Getty Images

Tonight's test match is not only the first time the Ferns have played in Perth since 2004 and Wai Taumaunu's coaching debut, but it also sees a New Zealand side facing Australia without Casey Williams and Katrina Grant.

The injured duo have generally been the preferred pairing against the Diamonds; Williams, acknowledged as the best defender in the game, is always the first name on the team sheet while the 1.86m Grant is the specialist stopper versus Australia.

"Katrina's strength is on the low ball," former Ferns coach Ruth Aitken told the Herald on Sunday earlier this year. "She is a really nuggety defender; she works really hard at ground level and that is why traditionally she has been the go-to-girl in terms of combating the Australian style."

In contrast, the taller Leana De Bruin (1.90m) has mostly been the option against the tall timber of Jamaica while Anna Scarlett has been the impact player in recent years; someone who comes on to do a specific job, whether to put on a shooter on a roll or disrupt the midcourt feeding into the circle.

Now they need to be the defensive pillars, with the severely inexperienced Kayla Cullen and Sulu-Tone Fitzpatrick (two caps apiece) the only other options. De Bruin and Scarlett are the old firm, having made their debuts back in 2002 and 2003 respectively, though they have not played together much in recent times.

"I'm sort of loving it," says de Bruin.

"It's a big responsibility but that is what I like. I need to step up and be the role model in there. I'm enjoying the pressure that goes with it and hopefully I can inspire those young ones to do the same and step up."

"I'm trying to step up into a good solid role," agrees Scarlett. "Hopefully I have can help the new girls and also bring something to the defensive end".

One of the most noticeable aspects of the England series was de Bruin's increased involvement in bringing the ball through the court.

That is where Williams was always going to be missed; apartfrom her tenacious, athletic defence the former captain also played a crucial attacking role and De Bruin is trying to fillthe void, which will test herlungs and her legs.

"I'm trying to add more of an attacking element to my game," says De Bruin. "I haven't always been the strongest out there; especially as during the season I play more of a goal keep role. I need to have the confidence to let that ball go and just do it."

They can both take heart from their ANZ Championship seasons. De Bruin had her best campaign in years, named the best goal keep and the league's joint MVP. Scarlett was similarly impressive, playing a key role in the Mystics run to the final. However, they both bear more recent international scars. The only time they have started in the circle together against Australia in the last three years, they struggled as Australia had a decisive 52-47 win. They were also part of a defensive unit that was bested by Caitlin Bassett, Natalie Medhurst and Catherine Cox in Singapore.

"We will need to adjust quickly but Scarlett is an old head too and we help each other," says DeBruin. "Joline [Henry], Anna [Scarlett] and I are three very distinctive personalities. We can learn so much from each other."

After winning their first two tests by large margins, Australia stuttered in the third test against England, pushed to the limit before limping to a four-goal victory.

While Australia have players missing in action, most notably captain Natalie von Bertouch, the Ferns have lost almost 200 caps of experience with Williams, Grant and Temepara George.

That, allied with the fact that Australia has won four of the last five transtasman clashes on Australian soil, make it hard to tip a Ferns victory tonight.

Missing in action
Casey Williams: 64 caps
Katrina Grant: 33 caps
Temepara George*:89 caps
*Retired