Silver Ferns: Three key questions

Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua wins the ball during the test match between New Zealand and Australia in Sydney. Photo / Getty Images

Netball reporters Dana Johannsen (Herald), Rikki Swannell (Newstalk ZB) and Michael Burgess (Herald on Sunday) answer three questions following the Silver Ferns' defeat to Australia in Sydney.

1. On a scale of one to 10, one being disastrous, 10 being cataclysmic, how bad is the loss of their captain Casey Kopua for this Silver Ferns side?

Johannsen: Judging by the faces in the Silver Ferns camp after the match, it's a 10.

Swannell: 10. She's the heart and soul of that team.

Burgess: Obviously it is a shocker but at least there is some reasonable depth at the defensive end. Kopua is a unique athlete but there are others that can come in and do a pretty good job. It is not as big a loss as Maria Tutaia would be and Irene van Dyk has been.

2. Can the Silver Ferns win the World Cup next year without Kopua?

Johannsen: I don't like their chances. Even before Kopua came under a huge, dark injury cloud the Ferns' prospects in Sydney next year weren't looking that great given the New Zealand side are clearly well off the pace of the impressive Australian unit at the moment. While the Ferns have some strong defenders in their arsenal, Kopua is undoubtedly their key strike weapon and the backbone of the New Zealand defensive effort. The New Zealand side will be significantly weaker without Kopua and they will be desperate to see her return to the court in time for next year's tournament.

Swannell: Things haven't been auguring particularly well for the World Cup anyway, without having this potential loss. In looking for silver linings, we will now get the chance to see what Temalisi Fakahokotau can do at international level, and defence is one area of the court where NZ has strength and depth. But Kopua is on another level and has been back to her absolute best this season ... let's hope for everyone's sake, but mostly hers, that she's in Sydney next year.

Burgess: The outside chance they had has decreased even further. But at least it will just come down to one game in Sydney (hopefully the final). The Ferns would have no chance over a series but one match...you never know.

3. I suppose we should mention something about the game ... how 'bout them Aussies?

Johannsen: They are looking pretty unstoppable at the moment. The Silver Ferns actually turned over more than enough ball to win last night's match - they racked up 18 intercepts alone, not to mention the other turnovers they forced. But the New Zealand side just could not find a way through the gritty Australian defence, putting up only 44 shots at goal (34 of those successful). The current crop of Diamonds are on a mission to become the most successful Australian team in history and it is hard to see any team diverting them from their goal.

Swannell: They're scarily good at the moment, totally on top of their game - fast, dynamic, tough, accurate and unrelenting. The return of Julie Corletto has had a huge impact defensively, while Madi Robinson is a smiling assassin in attack. The Silver Ferns and everyone involved in New Zealand netball through the zones and ANZ Championship teams face a huge task to catch back up to where the Aussies are at ... the concern however is that they will continue to pull further ahead.

Burgess: You have to curse the fine lines in sport. A little less than one year ago the Diamonds were in crisis mode, having lost three on the bounce to England then a convincing defeat in Invercargill. The Ferns should have won in Auckland - which would have left Lisa Alexander under pressure to keep her job. They blew it... qnd now the Diamonds are flying....