Silver Ferns plot English revenge
Returning Silver Ferns shooter Maria Tutaia and the rest of the squad are keen on setting the record when the Taini Jamison Trophy begins tonight.
The Silver Ferns play England at Porirua’s Te Rauparaha Arena in the first game of the threematch series, only a week after their surprise 49-45 loss to England in Auckland last week.
Tutaia missed that game and the 57-47 win over Australia on Sunday while away for the bereavement of a member of her extended family.
The veteran shooter only caught the end of both games, but had been filled upon her return to Silver Ferns camp this week
She said the win over Australia had been massive, especially for coach Janine Southby and assistant Yvette McCausland-Durie.
‘‘The girls have come in ready, fit and firing for the next challenge and that’s England,’’ Tutaia said. ‘‘We know how tough that’s going to be, especially after a loss against England.’’
The England Roses are on the improve and have a handful of players involved in the Australian league these days, but the rare loss to England didn’t sit well with the Silver Ferns.
The Silver Ferns see it as another test match, but they are keen on revenge, Tutaia said. So a 3-0 series win would keep them happy and help put the loss behind them.
Despite beating Australia the Silver Ferns are keen to keep improving and want to play a tenacious style of netball, but England won’t make that easy.
‘‘England are a very physical team. From what I saw today they look a lot more physical than Australia.
Katrina Grant (captain), Maria Tutaia, Kayla Cullen, Gina Crampton, Temalisi Fakahokotau, Monica Falkner, Shannon Francois, Kelly Jury, Bailey Mes, Grace Rasmussen, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Jane Watson. England: Kadeen Corbin, Helen Housby, Jo Harten, Chelsea Pitman, Serena Guthrie, Beth Cobden, Eboni BeckfordChambers, Geva Mentor, Ama Agbeze (captain), Sara Bayman, Eleanor Cardwell, Jade Clarke, Jodie Gibson.
7.45pm.
‘‘I reckon they will be a lot harder than [last week] and I reckon they will be a lot harder for the rest of the tour.’’
In the last England test, the Silver Ferns were up 26-23 at halftime and 37-36 with a quarter to go, but fell apart in the final spell to hand England the game.
There have been a couple of changes to the New Zealand squad since the Australia test, with Tutaia, midcourter or defender Kayla Cullen, midcourter Grace Rasmussen and defender Temalisi Fakahokotau all back.
Gone are Phoenix Karaka, Samantha Sinclair, Maia Wilson and Whitney Souness.
Uncapped Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic shooter Monica Falkner remains with the squad and is a chance to make her debut.
Even though they are experienced players coming back in, Tutaia said they would take some getting used to each other again.
‘‘It’s quite hard come into a group that’s been together for a week and a half. I know there’s still a lot of time with the amount of training this week and we can work on connections and combinations and familiarity of players.’’
Tutaia believed having the fresh legs would help and the addition of robust defender Fakahokotau will be good for them.
The return of Tutaia strengthens the Silver Ferns attacking end and she should slot back into the starting side along with shooting partner Bailey Mes.
England players such at defender Geva Mentor and shooter Jo Harten are regulars in the Australian league and will make life hard for the Silver Ferns.
After the test in Porirua, the teams meet again in Napier on Sunday and Hamilton on Wednesday. Brian Lara has lashed out at the West Indies team’s behaviour on their fractious cricket tour of New Zealand in 1980.
The tour featured several unruly moments, including pace bowler Colin Croft shouldercharging Kiwi umpire Fred Goodall as he ran into bowl in one of the tests.
Another fast bowler, Michael Holding, spectacularly kicked out a stump after his appeal for the dismissal of New Zealand batsman John Parker was turned down.
The West Indies team, led by Clive Lloyd, were not happy with the New Zealand umpires and at one stage had to be persuaded to take the field after threatening not to come out of their dressing room.