At a glance
Images of Malawi netballers dancing about and embracing with joy are hard to forget for Silver Ferns fans.
In what ranks as the darkest day in Ferns’ history and one of netball’s greatest upsets, Malawi’s ‘‘Queens’’ caused a stunning 57-53 boilover at last April’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
The Ferns never recovered from that tremor, failing to medal for the first time and finishing fourth, which had far-reaching ramifications.
It seems only fitting tonight’s (NZ time) Netball World Cup opener in Liverpool pits the Ferns against the African giantkillers in their first rematch since that shock result.
Plenty has changed for the Ferns with Noeline Taurua now in charge, not Janine Southby, who paid the price for the dire Commonwealth Games showing and a string of shoddy results.
New Zealand netball legends Laura Langman and Casey Kopua, who will retire after the World Cup, are back in the national side, having not been available for the Commonwealth Games. Silver Ferns schedule (NZ time) Today 8pm: v Malawi Tomorrow 10pm: v Barbados Sunday 8pm: v Singapore
Only six faces remain from the Ferns squad who were part of that humiliating defeat – Katrina Rore, who was captain, Shannon Saunders, and the shooting quartet of Maria Folau, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Bailey Mes, and Te Paea Selby-Rickit.
The Cup opener represents a chance to demonstrate how far the Ferns have come since the Commonwealth Games and an early indication of their tournament prospects. Another loss to World No 6 Malawi would be inconceivable.
New Zealand’s task has been made somewhat easier with star Malawi goal shoot Mwai Kumwenda, the architect of their famous win, shooting 41 goals from 46 attempts, sidelined with a long-term knee injury.
Not having Kumwenda, one of Malawi’s few world-class talents, is a huge blow. The Ferns were guilty of taking their foot off the pedal last time against Malawi, having led 32-25 at halftime, and 18-11 after the opening quarter.
Southby made a series of baffling substitutions, rotating her players around like a game of musical chairs, and Malawi seized the opportunity.
‘‘I’d hate to think we’d ever underestimate any side,’’ Rore told Stuff reflecting on that harrowing evening.
‘‘In that game we did make changes at halftime and things got away from us and we couldn’t pull it back. No matter what, we just can’t give them a sniff at all.
‘‘We’ve got to get on top of them and carry that on.’’
There’s been no talk of redemption or restoring damaged pride against Malawi in the Ferns camp.
They’d love to deliver an early World Cup statement and Rore stressed their focus was on improving each game, rather than any payback.
‘‘I feel like Commonwealth Games is a completely different kettle of fish. That has been and gone and is completely gone, gone, gone.
‘‘I don’t really think about that any more at all.
‘‘This is a totally different side. There’s a totally different mentality here and totally different coaching staff. Obviously, we lost to Malawi and we definitely don’t want that to happen again.’’
Malawi are renowned as an unpredictable side and are tricky to plan for.