KEY POINTS:
Richie McCaw and Jerry Collins may have been watching on from the stands but it was a former All Black that inspired Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson sublime performance during last night's record netball win over Jamaica.
Wilson was at the heart of a totally dominant effort, an
80-36 victory from a New Zealand side needing a boost after losing four of their last five internationals.
While Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia and Jodi Te Huna each provided the finishing touches, their energetic wing attack was chiefly responsible for ensuring the ball was served on a virtual platter into the goal circle.
Wilson's 69th test will rank as one of her most complete though the calibre of the opposition inside the Westpac Arena means she will have previously toiled just as hard for less reward.
The 28-year-old practically admitted post-match the win was expected but a pep talk from her husband Jeff ensured there would be no complacency as she embarked on a five-test programme that will gather in intensity with Australia's arrival in Auckland tomorrow.
Rightly named player of the match -- though goal keep Casey Williams also made a compelling case -- Wilson said the former international rugby winger drummed in some pertinent advice on the eve of the match.
"He said: 'Don't take any international for granted, you've got such an amazing opportunity'.
"That just sparked my passion and that passion drives you so much."
Wilson was also no doubt propelled by the fact the Silver Ferns needed to produce a performance befitting their world champion status after a tough time of late against Australia and England.
Fortunately Jamaica, currently ranked No 3 behind Australia, played their part by never acclimatising to New Zealand's fast-paced style -- or the chilly weather conditions.
Several of the visitors took the court with head colds, partial justification for an insipid performance lacking the typical physicality of traditional Caribbean sides.
The contest was effectively over by the end of the first period -- New Zealand, with the unmissable van Dyk raced to a 22-9 lead.
By halftime the margin had ballooned out to 20, at the final whistle the Silver Ferns had managed their highest score against Jamaica (previously 71 in 1994) and their widest winning margin, erasing the 25-goal mark of two years ago.
Van Dyk nailed 37 from 38; Tutaia 21 from 24 after entering the rout after halftime while Te Huna missed just four from 26 over two stints.
In stark contrast 1.96-metre Jamaican Romelda Aiken, cast as the Silver Ferns' major threat, was subbed after missing five shots in 15 minutes -- the same number than went astray during two test losses to Australia last week.
The downcast 18-year-old was pulled three minutes into the second quarter, before returning for a brief final period cameo to finish with an inconsequential 11 from 16.
Aiken's 10cm height advantage over Williams never came into the equation as the heir apparent to Vilimana Davu made life miserable for Jamaica's next big thing.
Williams rugged defence, Wilson's playmaking, the accuracy of veteran van Dyk and Laura Langman's transition to centre ensured Wilson and coach Ruth Aitken had plenty to enthuse about before the teams head to Auckland for tomorrow night's second test.
"It was like a click, a switch went on," Wilson said of the Silver Ferns' fluidity on attack.
"As soon as you turned there was some one on (free).
"To be able to bring people on and off and continue to go onwards and upwards -- it's really heartening we got 10 or so players out there on court."
For the coach, the most satisfying aspect was the collective defensive effort that literally took Aiken out of the game, and kept goal attack Simone Forbes (12 from 13) quiet.
"Casey had a great game and I think she was supported fantastically by the front of circle defence," Aitken said.
"That's what we've been working on, the pressure that comes from our attacking end. We had some good pressure there."
Meanwhile, Jamaican coach Connie Francis was despondent considering her side held Australia to four and 19-goal margins last week.
"I thought we were mentally prepared for the game but we just didn't turn up," she said, citing frigid weather conditions as a contributing factor to her players' malaise.
"Some of the girls are under the weather but we had to put that behind us, we just didn't handle the pressure."
- NZPA
