Netball: Ferns must step up - coach

There will be no backward step from the Silver Ferns as they front up for tomorrow's final game in Auckland against a World 7 netball team that have already comprehensively outplayed them twice.

Beaten 44-48 in the first test on Monday against the composite team of current internationals and former stars, the Silver Ferns' first-quarter disintegration in the second test in Rotorua on Wednesday left them with no chance of levelling the series.

Trailing 7-15 after 15 minutes, the New Zealanders regrouped and managed to stem the haemorrhage of goals to eventually concede the match 44-53.

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken and assistant Waimarama Taumaunu acknowledge that a lack of consistency, poor communication and a high error rate have meant their team have performed nowhere near potential.

But Taumaunu said today that now was not the time ease back and play conservatively.

"We're going to persevere with trying a new midcourt combination," she told NZPA.

She conceded there could be "consequences" if the game plan didn't work, but said the long-term benefits of getting it right outweighed any disadvantages.

Taumaunu wouldn't be drawn on names, but said in terms of strategy, the Silver Ferns would try to keep ball speed up and move away from a holding midcourt game.

In the first test in Wellington, Liana Barrett-Chase started at wing attack, Temepara George at centre while Laura Langman reverted to her more favoured wing defence position.

The combination struggled to find any sort of rhythm, but was given plenty of time to gel before Maree Bowden replaced Barrett-Chase for the final quarter.

In Rotorua, Aitken started with the same midcourt which opened two days earlier but was forced into wholesale changes after 15 minutes.

Barrett-Chase was benched, George moved from centre to wing attack and Langman shifted from wing defence to add drive at centre, and replaced by new cap Larrissa Willcox.

Aitken has a range of combinations at her disposal tomorrow, with perhaps the most likely involving more court time for Bowden.

The Tactics midcourter, who stepped up her game a notch over the trans-Tasman league after an uncertain international season last year, could earn a start at wing attack tomorrow.

With George at centre and Langman back at wing defence, the combination could provide the Silver Ferns with enough drive to prevent a series whitewash.

Taumaunu said the mood in the New Zealand camp had picked up over the last day.

"It's not nice to lose - no-one sets out to lose like that. But we've done our analysis, watched the videos, talked about it and the girls look a little happier now."

She said one positive aspect of Wednesday's game was the improvement in New Zealand's circle defence, as new captain Casey Williams and Joline Henry lifted their game noticeably.

Retention of turnover ball was also better than on Monday, Taumaunu added, but problems with the Silver Ferns' centre pass had not improved, which was a concern.

While the World 7 series is beyond salvage, the Silver Ferns are playing for a lot more than just pride at Waitakere's Trust Stadium.

There are five matches next month against world champions Australia, followed by the inaugural world series in Manchester in October. A test against England, and two against Jamaica soon after, conclude a hectic international calendar for the Silver Ferns.

- NZPA