AT A GLANCE
Silver Ferns squad for series against Malawi: Casey Kopua (c), Laura Langman, Maria Tutaia, Jodi Brown, Irene van Dyk, Cathrine Latu, Te Huinga Reo SelbyRickit, Katarina Cooper, Shannon Francois, Joline Henry, Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant. out of the mix after the 4-1 Constellation Cup series loss to Australia.
Taumaunu said those two were given the nod based on their ANZ Championship experience, with Cooper and Shannon Francois always set to come in against Malawi, though the latter jumped the gun a bit when Camilla Lees was ruled out by injury.
‘‘I think that it’s important, particularly when you’ve got someone with no ANZ this year, that we put her into an environment where she’s more likely to have a positive experience,’’ she said.
Cooper is being looked at as a centre/wing defence, with Francois set to hold the wing attack bib, though Taumaunu is also keen on shifting centre Laura Langman forward.
‘‘I perhaps may have been in the minority but I thought there was moments, particularly against England [last year], when the Kayla [Cullen]-Laura combination had some really magical moments,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m a little regretful we haven’t had a chance to keep working on that, but Kayla’s injury means that we haven’t.’’
As for Cooper, Taumaunu described her as big, powerful and a crafty feeder.
‘‘So I’m really hopeful that we can get early ball into Cathrine [Latu]. I thought we did that a few times in the fifth test against Australia, and it’s much more effective, Cathrine’s freer, there’s not such a physical battle to get free for the ball.’’
Taumaunu is looking at Latu and Irene van Dyk getting equal game time in this series, while the others that didn’t step onto the court against the Diamonds – shooter Jodi Brown and de- fender Te Huinga Reo SelbyRickit – are also set to get game time against the world No 5 ranked side.
Malawi have met New Zealand on three previous occasions, losing heavily each time – 77-41 at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, 67-39 at the 2006 Games and 85-26 at the 2007 world champs.
While it will be a fair step down from the level the Ferns have been accustomed to, Taumaunu was adamant motivation wouldn’t be a problem.
The Ferns assemble next Monday in Wellington, where the series gets underway on the Thursday night, before it heads to Napier on October 27 and Hamilton on October 31.