KEY POINTS:
It was cool, they were maybe too calm and far from collected. Now the Sunshine Girls have reached warmer climes, they may need to revive some old fury tonight if they're to come close to the refined Silver Ferns.
Jamaican coach Connie Francis has been with the side
for 20 years, but Thursday's 44-goal loss to the Silver Ferns in Christchurch was the most "pathetic display" she'd ever seen.
It was no excuse, she said, that it was cold and some players had runny noses.
She doubted their new calm, composed style, encouraged by legendary former Australian coach Jill McIntosh, contributed to the world No 3's downfall.
It was all, she said, to do with nerves playing the world champions - in particular teenage shooting giant Romelda Aiken, dwarfed by the grit of Ferns keeper Casey Williams - and a lack of inspiration from the senior Sunshine Girls.
"That was the worst I have ever seen our team play. After showing Australia last week we were a team to be reckoned with, that was a pathetic display," Francis said.
"Romelda admitted she was nervous for the first time, and we've got to help her overcome that. In order for the younger ones to play well, the senior players need to inspire confidence."
After taking Australia to world championship glory in 1999, McIntosh is now a coaching consultant around the globe, and in her month with the Jamaicans she taught them patience and discipline. But has it come at the expense of some of Jamaica's natural flair and fire?
"At times we tend to be overly aggressive, so she taught us calm. We respect her, and we gave her our all," Francis said.
"I don't think we've lost our flair. We've just come to recognise when to go and when not to. We are a very good team, and after some serious soul searching, we will recover."
The Silver Ferns, naturally on a high yesterday, are well aware the unpredictable Jamaicans can bound back - whether it's tonight or in four month's time.
"It may be that this is the phase where they've added discipline, and their next phase will be retaining their flair," Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said.
"In the end, they weren't allowed to show any flair. They were just squashed. Our pressure through the court, and the speed of the ball, wore them down and they lost heart, but I was pleased we kept our momentum.
"But we know when the sunshine comes out, so do the Sunshine Girls."
Francis said the same as she arrived in Auckland to clear blue skies yesterday.
So the Ferns need to stop their concentration jumping ahead four days to the first of three tests against Australia.
