Taurua shows her ruthless side
Noeline Taurua has stamped her mark on a Silver Ferns squad for the first time, making three changes for the Constellation Cup against Australia which starts on Sunday.
In come defender Sulu Fitzpatrick, uncapped wing attack Erikana Pedersen, and shooter Maia Wilson, with Karin Burger, Elisapeta Toeava, and Ameliaranne Ekenasio dropped from the 12-strong squad.
There was no place for shooter Bailey Mes, a fixture in the team in recent years who Taurua had been trialling at wing attack, amid concerns about her shooting accuracy.
Fitzpatrick is set to make her second appearance for the Silver Ferns seven years after making her first. She had a fine season for the Central Pulse in the national premiership, and Taurua has rewarded her for it.
‘‘Her combination with Katrina Grant was very strong,’’ Taurua said.
‘‘She’s a bigger-bodied person and she’s got a lot of presence in the circle, not that we were exposed, but she provides us something else in our defensive unit, and we’re looking for someone to explore that a bit more against Australia.’’
Pedersen impressed for the Mainland Tactix as they made it to the premiership finals, and got the nod on the back of her performances in camp this week, alongside Gina Crampton and ahead of Mes, Toeava and Whitney Souness, the other wing attack options.
‘‘She’s renowned for keeping possession of the ball, which is something we need to be able to do and execute under pressure,’’ Taurua said.
With Wilson in for Ekenasio, who was off target during the Quad Series, Taurua has two players she views as goal attacks – Maria Folau and Te Paea SelbyRickit – and two she views as goal shoots – Wilson and Aliyah Dunn.
Mes is set to be the only player named in a 17-strong Silver Ferns squad in August not to feature during the Quad Series or Constellation Cup, with the exception of a trio of injured defenders – Kelly Jury, Casey Kopua and Temalisi Fakahokotau.
The Ferns are next in camp in December, and Taurua said she was looking forward to seeing how Mes had grown by then.
‘‘She is working on her percentages, which is an area she needs to improve on, and the ability to shoot under pressure.
‘‘She’s massive with regards to her athleticism. She’s got value not only for us in the Silver Ferns but for Mystics, but we’re looking at what she can do when she does go away, comes back into our environment, and delivers under pressure.’’
The Ferns lost to the Australian Diamonds by five goals in their final Quad Series match two weeks ago, after earlier thumping South Africa and suffering a record defeat against England.
Taurua said she was pleased with how the team had gone in that series, but was looking to put more wins on the board in the Constellation Cup, and end the Diamonds’ seven-game winning streak against the Ferns.
‘‘We did have incremental improvements every time we took the court, not only in [games] but in trainings, but it’s about getting the big W on the scoreboard.
‘‘We have to get a mindset that we’re out there not to rebuild, we’re out there to win. We must be able to train that way, and have that mindset that we’ve got a killer instinct.’’
Silver Ferns Constellation Cup squad: Gina Crampton, Aliyah Dunn, Sulu Fitzpatrick, Maria Folau, Katrina Grant, Laura Langman (captain), Erikana Pedersen, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Sam Sinclair, Michaela SokolichBeatson, Jane Watson, Maia Wilson. Constellation Cup schedule: Sunday: Brisbane Oct 10: Townsville Oct 14: Hamilton Oct 18: Wellington
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