Ferns owe it to Langman
Dishing up a repeat of their shambolic showing in the Constellation Cup opener isn’t an option for the Silver Ferns.
Captain Laura Langman will write herself into the New Zealand netball record books in Townsville tonight (9.30pm start NZT) when she takes the court against Australia in the second test of the series.
Langman, who made her international debut in 2005, will surpass retired shooting great Irene van Dyk and become the most capped Fern in history, playing her 146th game.
After Sunday’s 57-42 thumping by the Diamonds in Brisbane, the Ferns will be desperate to turn in a performance they can be proud of and honour Langman in the best possible way.
Only 172 women have represented the Silver Ferns and just seven have played 100 or more tests. Eclipsing van Dyk’s mark is a landmark achievement and something worth celebrating.
Copping a drubbing in Langman’s milestone match would leave a sick feeling in her team-mates’ stomachs and put Australia in firm control of the four-game series ahead of the return matches in New Zealand.
‘‘I think everyone will have that in the back of their minds as added motivation,’’ Silver Ferns wing attack Gina Crampton told Stuff.
‘‘It’s such an awesome achievement and she’s someone who deserves it . . . While it’s not our focus it’s there and it would be really nice if we put out a lot better performance for her.’’
As a high school student at Wellington Girls’ College, Crampton admired Langman’s midcourt play and said she was a netballer she looked up to.
Crampton, 26, was fortunate enough to make her Ferns debut in 2016, lining up in the midcourt alongside Langman against Australia in Sydney.
Langman only played a further three tests before a 695-day break from the national side, which ended last month, because she was playing in the Australian domestic competition and taking time out from the game.
‘‘She was probably in there the whole time I was watching the Ferns growing up. Definitely, I think she was a role model,’’ Crampton said.
‘‘It’s really cool for other people to see if you’re good enough you can hang around for a while and really make your mark on netball, which she’s done.’’
Sunday’s 15-goal loss was the Ferns’ eight straight defeat to the Diamonds dating back to last September. There had been some tough words in their team meetings and Crampton said they were capable of much better.
Just 14 days earlier, New Zealand had produced an encouraging 60-55 loss against the same opponent. That regression had made the loss difficult to digest.
‘‘Everyone’s been pretty honest and up front about that. People have been putting their hands up and it’s good that we’re in that place in training where we’re in those spaces where we can say ‘not good’ or ‘just good’, so we can move on pretty fast.’’
Silly errors crippled the Ferns in the Constellation Cup opener, committing an alarming 40 turnovers. Several mistakes boiled down to accountability and
Constellation Cup game two, tonight 9.30pm (NZT). New Zealand: Laura Langman
players needing to be smarter under pressure with held balls, stepping, and offensive contact all called.
‘‘It’s definitely been addressed. Pretty much not good enough at this level.
‘‘We’re there for a reason and we shouldn’t be giving away those soft things like that . . . If we can cut that out pretty much immediately then we’ll be putting ourselves in a lot better place.’’
During the second and third quarters, the Ferns were outscored 34-17, which allowed Australia to build a comfortable 44-27 advantage by three-quarter-time.
The Ferns had enjoyed passages of strong play early on and were locked at 10-10 after the first quarter.
Exactly the type of netball they want to deliver in Townsville.