Excessive air time catches up with Ferns

Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby has criticised the farcical Quad Series format, which has seen her team spend more time in the air than the netball court.

New Zealand lost 57-50 to Australia in their only match in South Africa on Sunday [NZ time] and then flew nearly 10,000km to England, via a stopover in Dubai.

They play England in Liverpool on Friday [NZ time] and conclude the tournament against South Africa in London on Monday [NZ time]. The Silver Ferns finish their tour with two tests against Wales in Cardiff over February 8-9.

The first leg of the inaugural Quad Series, which was played in Australia and New Zealand last August, worked well due to the close proximity of the two countries.

Southby didn’t think playing matches in England and South Africa in the same tournament was practical and called for changes.

The Quad Series will be reviewed after the final matches in London and it will surely take on a different look for the future.

Southby favoured all the matches being played in one country during the biannual tournament, which would see each of the four Sanzea partners host it within two years.

‘‘It seems crazy we went all the way to South Africa for 60 minutes of netball.

‘‘I’m not sure travelling to countries so far apart is sustainable long-term. It’s certainly provided some challenges for us from a logistics point of view.’’

Southby reiterated she was supportive of the Quad Series concept and said it was vital for growing the standard of international netball.

World No 5 South Africa showed their steady improvement taking England to extra-time in Sunday in Durban before losing.

The Silver Ferns hadn’t played a test in South Africa since 2000 and Southby said for most of the crowd it had been their first taste of a live international.

‘‘One of the things which is

"It seems crazy we went all the way to South Africa for 60 minutes of netball." Janine Southby, above

really critical is that we keep giving countries opportunities to get better.

‘‘The better they are, we have to be.’’

The Silver Ferns swapped balmy temperatures in coastal Durban for chilly Liverpool, following two long flights and a bus ride from Manchester.

Southby said the team pulled up ‘‘pretty well’’ with a well-managed plan in place around sleep, recovery and exercise.

They fitted in a light training session yesterday and played a 60-minute match against English Superleague side, the Manchester Thunder, in the afternoon.

Former Silver Ferns midcourter Liana Leota is in the Thunder squad, but didn’t feature due to injury.

Shooter Maria Tutaia took a knock to the ankle in the closing stages of the loss to Australia, but Southby said it wasn’t a concern and she was available against England.

Meanwhile, Australia edged closer to retaining the Quad Series title beating South Africa 62-46 in Durban yesterday.

Australia and South Africa join the Silver Ferns in England for the third and final round of the tournament.