Netball: Patience key but time is running out for the Silver Ferns

Casey Kopua is delighted to be back in the Silver Ferns but found the pace of the game "bloody fast" after three years away. Photo / Photosport

Much has changed in Casey Kopua's three year absence from the Silver Ferns, both within her life and the landscape of international netball.

A 100-test veteran, and dual gold medal winner from the Melbourne (2006) and Delhi (2010) Commonwealth Games, in many ways the 33-year-old former captain illustrates how far the Ferns have fallen.

New Zealand are, somehow, ranked second in the netball world — behind Australia but ahead of Jamaica (third) and Commonwealth champions England (fourth).

From a results perspective, though, the Ferns have been in a steady state of freefall over the past year.

Kopua, the inspirational defender and leader, battled her way back from horrific knee and subsequent foot injuries to make her international return alongside Jane Watson as the Ferns suffered a repeat 13 goal drubbing to England to open their Quad Series on a deflating note on Monday (NZT).

Compare that with Kopua's last test series, in 2015 when she regularly flew through the air to nab intercepts and tips as the Ferns drew the Constellation Cup 2-2 with world champions Australia, and it is then evident how much work remains.

"It was definitely emotional because I thought that wouldn't be me again standing on that line with the team," Kopua said of her return to the test arena in Liverpool.

"It added more fire for me to keep going for a little bit longer. I loved being back out there but it was bloody fast. The game is played the same but the way England used to play ... they aren't like that anymore."

These days Kopua, vice-captain to Laura Langman for this series, has two-year-old daughter Maia to FaceTime from the other side of the world.

The complexion of the squad and management, now under Noeline Taurua's guidance, has also changed significantly since Kopua last donned the black dress.

If the Ferns are to challenge again anytime soon, they need to harness all Kopua's experience.

"It's been welcoming, easy. I'm finding my feet but also using my own voice as to what things could be done or not done. It's getting that balance. I'm definitely making the most of it.

"I think we're definitely on the rise. When we do what we say we're going to do the netball to watch is brilliant but we need to be able to do that consistently. Real time together on the court is very valuable for us.

"Possession and patience is a big thing for us.

"When we do that it works. It might be pretty boring just doing the same old thing but we need to keep doing that on both attack and defence."

The paradox with the Silver Ferns at present is they are demanding patience from themselves — and their fans — when time is running out to evoke a major turnaround before the World Cup in Liverpool in July.

Even the prospect of facing Australia, whom the Ferns have beaten once in their past five, on Sunday (NZT) in London fails to spark any sense of panic from Kopua about the need to show immediate, tangible improvements.

"The World Cup is going to come round really quickly so it's making the most of where we are, who you are with and every training. We're aware of where we are and where we've got to go but it'll fly by in no time.

"The girls want to improve and they're doing everything they can. We just need to put it all together and that comes with time.

"You don't want to force that stuff because things come together naturally anyway.

"The girls are happy to hang out with each other, happy to hang out by themselves."