KEY POINTS:
Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson probably thought about Richie McCaw yesterday and how she would have coped had she been in his shoes.
In a little over a month's time Wilson's Silver Ferns will be in the final stages of the world championships - New Zealand's last attempt
for world supremacy this year.
It was to be the year of the fabulous four. The Black Caps, Team New Zealand, the All Blacks and Silver Ferns all battling it out in events that were the culmination of four years of work.
While it was a big ask for all four to be successful most hoped at least one would be victorious. With three down those hopes now lie with the Ferns.
With Australia, the rise of England and the unpredictable Jamaicans these world championships could be one of New Zealand's hardest yet. As the final Kiwi team line up in their showpiece event what can the Silver Ferns take from the three who have failed before them?
A lack of mental toughness was a reason cited for the Blacks Caps failure in the West Indies, along with a less than potent top order batting lineup.
Up until their world championships win in 2003, the Silver Ferns were regarded as chokers but seem to have conquered that as shown in their last win over the Aussies where they won in overtime.
As for weaknesses the Ferns have a couple, both of which are in the midcourt. Whether or not they have been rectified only time will tell.
Team New Zealand are the only team the Ferns can look to for advice on getting to the final. They did it superbly, steadily improving as the America's Cup progressed.
But when they got to the match that really counted against Alinghi, they themselves admitted they didn't sail as well as they had throughout the challenger series. A valuable lesson the Ferns can take.
The Silver Ferns can learn plenty from the All Blacks failure, including the need to have a top lineup and one that is battle hardened. A lot also has to be said about experience which often translates into composure in crucial moments.
Choosing to sit out the national championships, the Silver Ferns have used that time to strengthen combinations, especially those in the midcourt following the loss of Temepara George.
Their links through court will have to be at their best as Australia's starting seven, and England's for that matter, are rock solid. Experience-wise, the New Zealand players have more matches under their belts than their main rivals.
Unlike the All Blacks, the Silver Ferns go into the world champs as the underdogs. The same position they were in four years ago in Jamaica. Nobody expected them to win then, nobody expects them to win now.
Not that that will worry Adine Wilson. As the Rugby World Cup has shown, nothing in sport is certain.
