Southby’s wait is finally over

Some nine months after being appointed, Janine Southby’s first genuine pressure-cooker day with the Silver Ferns finally arrives today.

The wait for her maiden game in charge has been so long that husband Roger suggested she stand and sing the national anthem in their living room before last weekend’s Bledisloe Cup trouncing in Sydney. She politely declined the dry run.

In an ideal world Southby’s first series would’ve come against Fiji back in January. That fell over, prolonging the planning and tension for the former Southern Steel mentor, who was not a universally popular choice as national coach.

‘‘It’s pretty normal to expect to be nervous,’’ Southby said on the eve of the Ferns opening Quad Series match against England in Auckland. ‘‘I get nervous before every game, whatever team I’m working with, so this one is no different. It’s just going to be a bit more obvious for a whole lot of people watching. I really just want to get underway.

‘‘I haven’t had a lot of time with the girls in that time. It’s not until you get in-front of the players that you get the real clarity.’’

Unlike the prospect of facing Fiji, there’s now no baby steps into Southby’s new era.

At the start of a four-year cycle she’s selected a squad as much for the future as the now. Retirements, pregnancy and the

"I get nervous before every game, whatever team I'm working with, so this one is no different. It's just going to be a bit more obvious for a whole lot of people watching." Janine Southby

injury deflections of veteran shooter Maria Tutaia (foot) and defender Anna Harrison (calf) drop the average age of this squad from mid to early 20s.

Southby will quickly find out whether trans-Tasman form transfers to the test arena, and whether her three rookies can make the step up.

‘‘That’s what we want because we need to know straight up where things are at,’’ Southby said. ‘‘This next couple of months is a chance to find out exactly who the players are going forward and to give them every opportunity to be the best team they can be.’’

Stability is not a luxury Southby has favoured. She’s been bold in some of her selections, namely 18-year-old Pulse shooter Maia Wilson, and will only have continuity in the midcourt where Laura Langman, Grace Rasmussen, Kayla Cullen and Shannon Francois return.

Bailey Mes and Pulse goal attack Ameliaranne Ekenasio (nee Wells) are expected to be the preferred shooting combination; new captain Katrina Grant and Phoenix Karaka or Cullen the starting defensive duo.

Whatever the lineup it will take time to settle, and there’s the added pressure that the Ferns have only lost four times in 85 matches against England.

‘‘You start a game and there’s lots of things that could happen. You could be forced to make changes.’’

At the back end of Waimarama Taumaunu’s tenure the Ferns found success - rattling even Australia at times - through quick ball movement and changing of angles at the shooting end.

Mes was, and still is, crucial to this style of play. And it seems Southby will attempt to pick up where Taumaunu left off in this regard.

‘‘It’s different from the Steel because we don’t have a tall shooter [Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler-Reid] in this space. We’ve got some good strengths at the attacking end around getting the ball moving. That’s the steps the Ferns took last year and the success they had in that space.’’

Nothing less than four quality quarters will be enough to start Southby’s long-awaited term off on a positive note.

Those nerves are sure to be bubbling from the anthem. ’’I just want to get goings,’’ she reiterates.