Heat goes on senior Ferns
OPINION: Ineffectual team defence and careless turnovers aren’t the Silver Ferns’ most pressing concern heading to the Australian leg of the Constellation Cup.
The most disheartening aspect of the side’s 57-54 and 60-52 Constellation Cup losses to the Diamonds over the past four days has been the lack of impact from senior players.
Australia outclassed and outpassioned New Zealand in both matches in Auckland and Christchurch, which has all but locked away the Constellation Cup for the fifth straight year.
If the Silver Ferns are to gain credibility in the final two tests in Adelaide (Wednesday) and Sydney (Saturday) their experienced leaders must start firing.
Captain Katrina Grant, who led from the front in the recent Quad Series and Taini Jamison Trophy series against England, has been well below her best in the two losses.
Grant hasn’t generated enough defensive turnovers or sufficient pressure to slow down the feeds into star Australian shooter and captain Caitlin Bassett, who is back to her form of old.
Playing alongside young goal keeps Kelly Jury and Temalisi Fakahokotau, both raw in the international ranks, it’s imperative Grant leads by example and goes hunting for intercepts, but it hasn’t been happening.
Centre Shannon Francois, who has accumulated 43 tests, remains a dilemma at international level. Francois, so often among the best domestic midcourters for the Southern Steel, isn’t having the same impact in the black dress.
Wing defence Samantha Sinclair has produced signs of promise when she’s deputised for Francois at centre in the first two tests and it might be time to start giving her greater court-time there.
The longer Francois continues to struggle, questions will linger whether former Steel shooting supremo, Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler-reid, simply made her a better player with her imposing 1.98m target under the hoop.
Established shooters Maria Tutaia and Bailey Mes have been accurate with their statistics, but the connections with the midcourt have been lacking. Both Tutaia and Mes have squandered crucial ball away in the attacking end due to Australia’s swarming defence, which has rushed them into mistakes.
Back-to back home losses to the Diamonds has reignited conversations the Silver Ferns are capable of one-off victories over their most fierce international rival, but can’t do it consistently.
With just six months until the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby has issues to address.
The midcourt remains a glaring worry with the starting wing attack, centre and wing defence positions still very much open for discussion.
It’s likely Southby will be forced to go back to veteran wing attack Grace Rasmussen for January’s Quad Series, who didn’t do a lot wrong when handed a chance in last month’s Taini Jamison Trophy.
Crampton has had her moments starting at wing attack and produces flashes of brilliance, but Rasmussen’s vision and calmness has been sorely missed against Australia.
There’s no question the Silver Ferns defence must drastically lift right through court as the series shifts across the ditch.
After a standout team defensive performance in the Quad Series victory over the Diamonds in Invercargill last month, it has been too easy for the Australian midcourt on attack.
Bassett has received the ball right where she wants it under the post and torched the Silver Ferns for 39 and 40 goals in Australia’s respective wins. Giving up 60 goals against the classy Diamonds as they did on Sunday, just won’t get the job done.
With their backs against the wall, we’ll find out a lot about the character of the Silver Ferns in Australia.
Being swept 4-0 in the Constellation Cup would be a psychological body blow this close to the Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand must redeem themselves with performances they can be proud of and that starts with their senior pros.