SILVER FERNS v AUSTRALIA
Third test: Brisbane.
Tomorrow: 5.30pm start.
Delayed coverage: TV One from 7pm.
It made for painful viewing, but the Silver Ferns hope the video nasty of their Melbourne meltdown can jolt them awake for the third netball test against Australia tomorrow.
Like an old-fashioned horror flick, players squirmed and covered their faces as the team viewed the replay of Wednesday's 44-48 defeat,
which left the five-test series poised at 1-1.
The cause of their discomfort was not so much the final quarter, which they won 14-6, but the first three, which saw them trail by as many as 16 goals as they handed over 22 turnovers from unforced errors.
"Watching the video is bit of hard work, a bit of salt in the wound," senior midcourter Laura Langman said. "It's a brutal fact, but we need to sit up and pay attention and look at ourselves in the mirror."
No one was immune, even former captain Langman, who made a solid start but struggled with her midcourt teammates to get any flow going.
"We had the ball in hand and we just didn't look after it and we all made some uncharacteristic personal errors; myself, not taking my feet to the ball."
Langman said criticism from the coaching team of Ruth Aitken and Wai Taumaunu had been constructive.
Simply pressing "play" on the DVD player was enough.
Now the question is whether the Silver Ferns are mentally strong enough to bounce back.
Backing up has never been their strength in Australia. For four consecutive years they have won the first test across the Tasman then lost the second.
Langman and fellow midcourter Temepara George felt the danger signs were there before the first centre pass at a sold-out Hisense Arena in Melbourne, so the early exchanges tomorrow might tell the story.
"That's the question we're asking ourselves, 'What went wrong?' Some of us thought maybe we weren't there in the warm-up."
New Zealand have played three times in Brisbane, for two wins and a 41-43 defeat last year, but have never graced tomorrow's venue, the sold-out Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Aitken may go with the same midcourt who finished the second test, with George at wing attack, Langman at centre and Raetihi-born, Perth-raised Larissa Willcox at wing defence.
Langman was enjoying the return to wing defence, but the untimely tour-ending calf strain to Liana Barrett-Chase forced a reshuffle.
"It took me a wee while to warm into centre, a lot longer than I would have liked. Eventually we slotted in quite well and the links started to come really nicely," Langman said.
"That was encouraging but we can't wait until the third quarter and be 16 down before we turn things around."
Langman's work on impressive Australian centre Natalie von Bertouch will be a key, while defenders Casey Williams and Katrina Grant or Joline Henry need a more effective shutdown of speedy shooting duo Sharelle McMahon and Susan Pratley.
McMahon will play her 100th test, the third Australian to do so after Liz Ellis and Vicki Wilson.
- NZPA
