UPSETTING THE ODDS
Silver Ferns triumph
What does it mean? Waimarama Taumaunu’s response was to say ‘‘well, it means we meet Jamaica on Tuesday.’’ Externally, it’s important for the Silver Ferns to play down the significance of yesterday’s 52-47 Netball World Cup win over holders Australia.
The Diamonds have been so good for so long that it doesn’t pay to taunt them or rub their face in it. After all, it had been almost two years since New Zealand last beat them and some of the nine intervening defeats were whoppers.
No, you do what Taumaunu did afterwards: praise the performance of a few individuals, suggest that Australia will come back stronger than ever and indicate that you still have significant work to do yourselves.
If Taumaunu then retreated to the dressing room and let out an almighty roar of satisfaction, she would’ve been entitled to. Her reputation was on the line here. It’s been tempting to say that this run of nine defeats had robbed the New Zealand game of any credibility and that this country’s playing and coaching pathways had led to a dismal dead end.
But the truth is that netball will always enjoy a prominence in New Zealand sport and that world-class players will continue to be produced. Though Taumaunu would never admit it, Sunday’s win was a massive endorsement of her after a period in which her judgement and ability had been questioned.
It would be a stretch to say her World Cup selections were rubbished but many felt that the coach was seeing more – and investing more – in some players than she should have. To drop Joline Henry after 91 tests without a proven replacement looked risky, as was selecting shooters such as Bailey Mes, Malia Paseka and Jodi Brown when it meant leaving Cathrine Latu at home.
Latu has consistently shot at a 20 per cent higher success rate than the other three and opting to do without that was a big call. However, regardless of whether New Zealand goes on to win the title here or not, Taumaunu was right. She decided it would take a certain style of play and certain athletes to reverse this run of nine successive defeats to Australia.
She didn’t know if it would work, or even if she had enough to even try and make it work but she knew it was her only choice. What does it mean? Sunday’s victory over Australia means the Silver Ferns have a chance to become world champions in a week’s time, where no chance had previously existed.
The players have been asked to work exceedingly hard in an attempt to grasp that chance. But the risk has been all Taumaunu’s. Time will tell if that risk is to be fully rewarded.