Ferns mull Langman change
Laura Langman’s move to wing defence might just last one game.
The Silver Ferns skipper played the full
60 minutes at wing defence in yesterday’s
54-41 loss to England in their Northern Quad Series opener in Liverpool, their fourth straight loss to the Commonwealth Games gold medallists.
Langman started all seven games in the centre bib to finish 2018 under new Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua. Following the 13-goal loss, which equalled their record losing margin to the Roses set last September, Taurua admitted she was weighing up returning Langman to centre against Australia on Sunday in London.
Midcourt standout Langman is adept in either role, but neither Sam Sinclair or debutante Kimiora Poi were able to impose themselves at centre. They both found the going tough against experienced English star Serena Guthrie and the Ferns battled to establish connections with their shooting end and get the ball in smoothly, courtesy of strong defence from the Roses.
Langman offers the Ferns a calming figure in the middle of the court on both attack and defence and they missed her presence there with Sinclair delivering a quiet showing and guilty of too many turnovers.
Taurua will quickly need to decide during the Quad Series where Langman’s best position in the midcourt lies with time ticking until July’s Netball World Cup, which will be held at M&S Bank Arena, the same venue as yesterday’s game.
‘‘To be honest, I may have to look at that again and see what we can do to have more firepower or direction in that attacking end or hard drives. [Langman] certainly provides that there,’’ Taurua told
‘‘The offset to that is what it looks like in goal defence [without Langman at wing defence]. I can definitely explore that as an option [against Australia].’’
The loss to England was the Silver Ferns’ 14th in their past 22 matches since the start of 2018. It was also their sixth loss to England in their last eight games with the Roses demonstrating why they are World Cup title favourites alongside Australia. New Zealand showed promise in the first half, trailing 25-24 at halftime, but were blown away in the third quarter, where they allowed England to score five straight goals and build a 31-25 lead.
England won the third term 15-6 to take a 40-30 advantage into the final quarter, which the Ferns were never going to peg back.
Silly errors plagued the Ferns in the third term, committing eight turnovers and only being able to put up eight