Southby preparing to make some tough calls
HAMILTON: Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby cannot quite decide whether the win over England has clarified or clouded her Constellation Cup selections.
New Zealand claimed the third and decisive test 6255 in Hamilton on Wednesday to win the Taini Jamison Trophy series 21 after England won the second test 4946 three days earlier in Napier.
Southby now has to settle on a squad for the fourmatch Con stellation Cup series against Australia beginning in three weeks, but the decision is not exactly crystal clear.
‘‘You think you are one minute, then the next minute it changes — we’ve got to make some tough calls,’’ she said. ‘‘I guess there’s going to be some really disappointed people, but the good thing is they’ve really raised the level of what we’re choosing from.’’
Southby split her 16strong squad between the Quad Series against England, Australia and South Africa, and the Taini Jamison Trophy.
There was plenty to please from both competitions, but also some obvious shortcomings, particularly against an experienced English lineup which outmuscled and outpaced the Ferns twice in four tests.
Southby was able to give court time to most of her squad, and only rookie goal attack Monica Falkner was unlucky to miss out. Southby was been pleased with the progress made.
‘‘There’s still lots to work on and lots to improve on, but I think we’ve started to make some steps in the right direction.’’
As always, she emphasises the importance of prioritising next year’s Commonwealth Games and the 2019 World Cup.
‘‘We’ve got to keep mindful that we’ve still got a long way to go, and it’s still a big campaign.’’
Southby will be naming her 12strong Constellation Cup squad today, with the first test on October 5, in Auckland, followed by the second, in Christchurch, three days later.
The final two matches are in Adelaide, on October 11, and Sydney, on October 14. — NZN