Ferns’ attitude must change for Quad Series
Former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering has criticised the side’s weak attitude and insists it must improve if they are to challenge for gold at April’s Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand return to the court for the first time since October’s 4-0 Constellation Cup mauling against Australia in the Quad Series, starting against England in London on Sunday (NZT).
Willering was dismayed by how meekly the Silver Ferns crumbled in those matches when the pressure went on and Australia scored a run of goals, highlighting a lack of mental toughness.
She wanted the side to be less predictable in their play and combinations, while also stressing they needed to show greater fight in pressure situations.
Distressingly, they got worse with each performance in the Constellation Cup, losing by 12 and 16 goal margins in the final two tests in Australia. The Diamonds edged them by three and eight goal buffers in the earlier matches on New Zealand soil.
‘‘If that same team goes in again with the same attitude this year, they’re going to be in trouble, Willering said.
‘‘We did the talk and talked about different things we were going to do, but it just never eventuated. They just lacked the links with each other and I think basically the ends were disjointed ... We just weren’t up to it.’’
England, who beat the Silver Ferns twice in five tests last year, will provide an accurate yardstick just where the team is at 12 weeks out from the Commonwealth Games.
The Quad Series then moves to Johannesburg, South Africa, with New Zealand playing the hosts on January 26 and Australia, two days later, on January 28.
The Silver Ferns will be desperate to regain confidence and build fluent connections after morale took a battering during the Constellation Cup clean sweep.
Coach Janine Southby stayed loyal to her players with wing attack Gina Crampton the major casualty and veteran midcourter Grace Kara (nee Rasmussen) recalled.
After the Quad Series, New Zea- land have one final tournament, The Taini Jamison Trophy, in Auckland from March 21-24 against Jamaica, Malawi and Fiji.
Among the Silver Ferns’ many concerns from the Constellation Cup was their inexcusably high turnover rate (33 per game) with basic mistakes, like stepping, breaking at the centre pass and held ball calls occurring too often.
Willering said they looked sluggish right through court with the midcourt struggling on both attack and defence, which led to issues in the attacking and defensive circles.
She was pleased to see Kara, who has played 49 tests since 2010, back in the group and said her vision, sharp feeding, and understanding with star shooter Maria Folau, nee Tutaia, were all assets.
‘‘They missed her experience. That was sorely missed and I think it became very evident.
‘‘It’s great to have the youth and enthusiasm, but at the end of the day, nothing beats the experience factor in the tough games. When you need to settle down and you need to change up a little bit, the experience is what counts.’’
Centre Shannon Francois, who was underwhelming in the black dress last year, must start delivering and replicating her strong domestic form with the Southern Steel. The heat will also go on wing defences Sam Sinclair and Kayla Cullen to slow down the supply of ball and generate greater defensive gains.
Few Silver Ferns enhanced their reputations during the Constellation Cup and Willering said experienced senior leaders, captain Katrina Grant, and Folau, needed to fire after quiet displays against Australia.
While winning tests is always the aim, Willering expected Southby to rotate the 14-player squad around in the Quad Series. The bigger picture is clearly success at the Commonwealth Games and settling on the final places in the squad.
‘‘You can’t be predictable and I think at the moment they are a little bit predictable ... It is about people stepping up and they need to have better team understanding because substitutions don’t always do it.’’