Taurua hails new-found Ferns depth
IT’S easy to forget the Silver Ferns battled for numbers in their shooting and defence ends at times last year due to poor fitness. How times have changed.
The Ferns head into today’s Constellation Cup decider against Australia on the Gold Coast with coach Noeline Taurua facing a healthy selection conundrum ahead of next year’s World Cup in Cape Town.
Taurua admitted it is going to be a tricky task trying to settle on a 12-player squad for the global tournament in July, where the Ferns are defending champions.
‘‘The depth we’ve built nearly in all areas is starting to be fruitful I think and the investments made over players, by the time we get to Netball World Cup we should have a really strong 12,’’ Taurua said.
Once upon a time, the Ferns would have been in panic mode if incumbent wing attack Gina Crampton and frontline defenders Jane Watson and Karin Burger were all unavailable at the same time.
The Ferns didn’t skip a beat without those three players in the first two Constellation Cup tests in New Zealand, winning by eight and four goals, before Wednesday’s stinker in Melbourne.
Goal shoot, for so long an issue for the Ferns, is suddenly plentiful.
Maia Wilson, the Ferns premier goal shoot in recent years, finds herself in a back-up role with Grace Nweke overtaking her as the top option – a handy problem to have.
Nweke clearly looks the No 1 choice at goal shoot and the player the Ferns want in that bib in the crunch games of the World Cup.
Peta Toeava’s sparkling play at wing attack in the first two Constellation Cup tests has only added to a growing list of midcourt contenders.
Toeava has previously struggled in her rare appearances at international level, but dazzled against Australia. She formed a potent connection with Nweke – her Mystics team-mate, which will have only opened Taurua’s eyes about their potential playing together in the black dress.
Toeava was only named for the New Zealand leg of the Constellation Cup, with Maddy Gordon and Kimiora Poi getting their chance in the midcourt for the matches in Australia.
‘‘I think the most impressive thing was she was able to play all four quarters in two games, that’s definitely been an improvement and probably also in result to the work she’s done physically on her body,’’ Taurua said of Toeava.
Whitney Souness has made the starting centre position her own at the Commonwealth
Games and early part of the Constellation Cup. With Kate Heffernan impressing at wing defence and able to cover centre, it could leave Crampton and Toeava scrapping for the wing attack bib for the World Cup.
Wing defence Kayla Johnson, Gordon, Poi, and Mila ReueluBuchanan will be others in the midcourt mix for Cape Town.
One of the most pleasing aspects for Taurua was New Zealand were starting to build depth in each area of the court that wouldn’t just last one World Cup cycle, but multiple.
She wanted the Ferns to be at least three deep in each position.