KEY POINTS:
One of the game's greats reinforced to the Silver Ferns yesterday the importance of doing the basics well as they count down to the world championships in Auckland.
Former New Zealand captain Sandra Edge helped out with a Silver Ferns training session yesterday, part of a five-day training
camp in Auckland. Edge, who was part of the 1987 world championship team, is still regarded as the world's best centre.
Her focus yesterday was on the basics. "Just the importance of good balance and the simple things you forget about when you're trying and working hard," she said.
"So nothing flash and fancy."
She said it was the same formula that the New Zealand team used in Glasgow 20 years ago. "Isn't it interesting thinking about 1987 and how we succeeded ... I can't think of too much fancy stuff," she said.
"It was, do everything well, do your job well, enjoy the experience, enjoy your teammates and support each other. No magic formula, that's what I remember."
Without Temepara George, the Silver Ferns' new look midcourt struggled at times against Australia in the July series which New Zealand lost 2-1. "I don't think you can isolate one group," Edge said. "It's a matter of - and that's what I worked on - working in with the shooters and with the defence and how you all have to work together to create options.
"They still have work to do, but they're looking great."
Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson, a long time Edge fan, said it was nice to get a few "pearls of wisdom" from her.
Edge was Wilson's mentor when she received a Prime Minister's scholarship a few years ago. "She is held in very high regard, although I must say a few of the young girls know the name but they can't remember her playing so some have requested we get some footage to have a look at Sandy when she was in full flight."
Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said they have used Edge before leading up to major tournaments.
"She offers something different, is a different voice and just this incredible wisdom and a different way of looking at things. She reaffirms it is the simple things done well but her ball control and her vision were outstanding - if we can glean a few tips from that I think it will be awesome."
The camp was the Silver Ferns' second ahead of world championships, which start in Auckland on November 10. They will continue to meet fortnightly for five-day camps.
"We believe it is all about spending time together as a team, ensuring those links are really strong and that we are really secure in both our attacking and defensive strategies," Aitken said.
"Every time we come into camp we have to keep growing our game."
When asked about the problem centre position, Aitken said she feels Laura Langman has "made huge strides" in the past few weeks.
"I have great faith in her ability to do the job. I think we are blessed to have that experience of Julie [Seymour] as the back-up as well. The reality is that when you are playing six games in eight days you are going to need more than one centre anyway."
Australia will name their world championship side at the end of the month. Aitken said she expects the core group to remain the same, the only dilemma being whether to include Kimberlee Green at the expense of Natasha Chokljat in the midcourt.
* In the opening games of the national championships last night Auckland Waitakere scored a predictable and easy win over Tasman, winning 79-33 in Invercargill while Canterbury were equally as dominant beating Eastern 53-38 in Dunedin.
