Yvonne Willering: Silver Ferns have 'no excuse for Malawi loss'

The Silver Ferns have lost their fear factor and will have to work hard to regain it, says former national coach Yvonne Willering.

Their shock 57-53 loss to minnows Malawi at the Commonwealth Games had shown that the Ferns were beatable.

''There was no excuse for that result after having beaten Malawi 75-42 in the recent Taini Jamison series.''

The loss was in the history books now and while Willering said it was a little too early to despair, they were going to have to regain their place at the top of world netball with Australia.

''It is not just a matter of regrouping, it is something that has to be earned but the focus must still be on the Commonwealth Games.

''We are just not getting out of situations in matches when we are put under pressure. Against Malawi there were a critical amount of substitutions when by this time we should have our combinations settled. I thought Te Paea Selby-Rickit was having a reasonable game but she went off.

Katrina Grant of the Silver Ferns. Photo / Getty Images.

"We were very inconsistent. At 14-14 in the second quarter that should have triggered moves that we had to have our most experienced players on court.''

Willering was not sure whether the demise in 2016 of the transtasman club competition could be attributed to the loss.

While the loss to Malawi was not great for New Zealand it was for international netball.
There was still hope for the Silver Ferns at the Games though.

The Silver Ferns play Scotland tonight but Wednesday's sudden pool match against England is crucial.

''There is always hope. If we beat England we are still in with a chance as we have a better goal ratio than Malawi,'' said Willering.

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