Netball: Kopua back as goal keep to offset Oz shooter

Caitlin Bassett and Casey Kopua compete for the ball. Photo / Getty Images

Ferns defence swap gives more strength in the air against relentless Bassett

The dominance of Australian shooter Caitlin Bassett has forced a reshuffle in the Silver Ferns' defensive end - a move that could prove permanent.

New Zealand skipper Casey Kopua has shifted back to the goal keep position in both the opening two Constellation Cup tests to try to contain the Diamonds' key scoring threat, with Katrina Grant playing the roaming role out in front.

The pair now look to be Waimarama Taumaunu's preferred defensive mix against Australia, and are expected to start tonight's third test in Sydney, where the New Zealand side seek their first win of the series.

It marks a move away from the long-standing Kopua-Leana de Bruin partnership, which has been used in just two quarters over the series.

"At the moment I think [Kopua at goal keep] is how we combat Bassett effectively. We have got the option of using Leana de Bruin in there as well, but I felt that Casey at the back behind Katrina was a better option [on Wednesday night]," said Taumaunu.

While the new defensive pairing could do little to halt the relentless march of the Diamonds attack in the opening 17-goal loss in Invercargill, Kopua and Grant, helped by more robust defence up the court, were impressive in game two in Melbourne. The pair kept Bassett to just 33 goals - well down on her usual return - and probably came up with enough turnover ball to win the game, had the attack execution been sharper.

The positional switch marks a return to where Kopua and Grant first started out in the Ferns.

Kopua was moved out to goal defence in 2009 - a move that raised eyebrows at the time. The decision was made to counter the shorter, speedier Australian attack, with Grant's strength being countering the flatter ball coming into the circle, allowing Kopua to roam out in front.

But the change in the Australian style of attack since the introduction of Bassett, and the emergence of several other tall shooters on the international scene, means Kopua's strength in the air is now needed at the back.

Seeing the writing on the wall in the Ferns' January tour to Britain, Grant, who at 1.85m is considered short for a goal keep, has significantly altered her game this season to ensure she would be a strong option at goal defence for this series.

She is relishing being let loose outside of the circle.

"I'm really enjoying it, it's quite different. Everyone thinks that the defensive roles are similar and you just have another third of the court to run around in, but they're not," she said.

"When I made the switch back to goal defence as more of a permanent role ... the one thing I had to really work on was my attack ... you have to do just as much work on attack as you do on defence."

Taumaunu said with Grant playing at goal keep for most of the ANZ Championship season, much of the Central Pulse captain's work on her game has been done in isolation, hanging around at the end of training to do extra ballwork and develop other aspects outside of game situations.

As well as improving her attacking game, Grant has had to change up her training plan to ensure she has the conditioning to last a full game at high intensity. While she has always been one of the fitter members of the squad, being able to chase the nippy Australian goal attacks around the court for 60 minutes requires a whole new level of preparation.

"I'm definitely a lot fitter now than a couple of years ago when I was playing goal keep, but that's all part of the territory."

NZ v Australia
Sydney, 9.20 tonight