Pressure on Francois in Ferns midcourt
The heat is on Shannon Francois to lead the way in the Silver Ferns’ midcourt as the post-Laura Langman era begins.
Francois is set to start at centre when New Zealand meet Australia in their Quad Series opener in Durban, South Africa, on Saturday [Sunday 2am NZ time].
The Southern Steel player, who will earn her 31st cap, regularly played alongside Langman for the Silver Ferns, with the latter often slotting in at wing defence.
With 141-cap veteran Langman missing from the team sheet for the first time since November 20, 2004, because she has signed in Australia’s new domestic competition, Francois will need to take on greater responsibility.
If Francois wasn’t making an impact previously, New Zealand could move Langman from wing defence into centre, but that luxury no longer exists.
Former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering said Francois was no longer a fresh face in international netball having debuted in 2013.
It was time for her to make a major contribution on both attack and defence, cut down her turnovers, and provide strong links to the shooters.
‘‘That’s the challenge and the way it has to be,’’ Willering said.
‘‘There comes a stage where it’s enough to be behind another player and it’s about making your own mark on the game.’’
Willering expected Anna Harrison to start in the vacant wing defence position against Australia. There is a glaring hole at WD with Langman ineligible and Kayla Cullen ruled out of the Quad Series with a foot injury.
She would partner skipper Katrina Grant and Jane Watson in the defensive end and have Francois operating alongside dependable wing attack Grace Rasmussen.
Bailey Mes and Maria Tutaia are a lock to line up together in the shooting circle.
Harrison was a revelation at goal keep in her return to the Silver Ferns last year, starring in their upset 53-51 win over Australia in Tasmania in October.
Taking her out of the defensive circle isn’t ideal, but Willering believed Harrison was just as effective at wing defence, having played there frequently over her long career.
‘‘[Harrison] offers value at wing defence because she creates opportunities and she’s got that tremendous reach as well.
‘‘I think what New Zealand needs to do is obviously not be predictable and have a number of different combinations open to them.’’
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic duo, midcourter Sam Sinclair, and 1.92m defender Kelly Jury are poised to debut during the Quad series, which shifts to England for the remainder of the tournament.
Sinclair looms as an option off the bench at wing defence with the 21-year-old’s nuggety style of play reminiscent of a young Langman.
‘‘She’s a mini-Langman, really,’’ Willering said.
‘‘She wants to be her own person and so she should be. You’d never make a comparison to Langman, she was just an elite athlete in her own right. Certainly, I think Sinclair deserves a spot in the Ferns.’’
Australia have named a weakened squad for the Quad Series. They are without starters Caitlin Bassett, Natalie Medhurst and Madi Robinson and have just 205 caps in their 11-player squad to the Silver Ferns’ 403.
Willering said the early scheduling of the tournament meant it was a perfect time to blood players and experiment with combinations.
She didn’t want to see international netball devalued, but with the 2018 Commonwealth Games the next pinnacle event, now was the time to see whether players belonged at international level.
The Silver Ferns have named their strongest squad possible, minus injuries and unavailability.
They will be desperate to beat Australia and gain some much needed confidence, having lost four of five tests to the Diamonds last year.