Silver Ferns banking on entire squad at World Cup

Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke in action against Trinidad & Tobago in their opening group match of the Netball World Cup in Cape Town.
Photo: Photosport

With nearly 30 substitutions across the first two Tests, the Silver Ferns coaching team have shown they aren’t afraid to mix and match combinations at this Netball World Cup in South Africa.

After the Silver Ferns survived a scare from Uganda at the World Cup in Cape Town last night, Silver Ferns assistant coach Deb Fuller said no positions were locked in.

“The combinations are still up for grabs, the competitiveness for spots in this team is still front and centre,” Fuller said.

The Silver Ferns beat Uganda 54-44 to register their second win of the tournament, while all 12 players got court time again.

Towering goal shooter Mary Cholhok was powerful under the post for Uganda as the teams were locked in a goal-for-goal battle.

New Zealand led by two goals at the first quarter break and pushed the lead out to a narrow 25-21 advantage at half-time.

Silver Ferns head coach Dame Noeline Taurua started with strike shooter Grace Nweke, partnered by Ameliaranne Ekenasio at goal attack.

However, all four New Zealand shooters were used throughout the game with Maia Wilson at goal attack and Te Paea Selby-Rickit replacing Nweke in the second half, which could have been seen as a risk.

Silver Ferns shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit
Photo: Photosport

But Selby-Rickit performed well at goal shoot and finished with 17 from 19.

Experienced midcourter Gina Crampton and defender Jane Watson’s injection into the Ferns’ line-up finally gave the defending champions some breathing space.

Dame Noeline said it was part of their overall strategy.

“That’s what we’re working towards and that’s something that we discussed that all 12 need to be ready and the combinations so that we can keep building and pose something different for the opposition,” Dame Noeline said.

She was happy with how the players slotted in on court.

“We were under the pump, everyone was under the pump and I thought they came in really well. Still a few ends that we can be better on but we’re progressing, heading in the right direction.

“There’s a point of difference and uniqueness each individual brings something different. It’s not a matter of anyone being better than somebody else, it’s our point of difference that each individual brings when they’re out on court.”

Fuller said rotating players at this stage of the tournament was also a necessity.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

“So that we don’t run out of gas by the time we get to the big dance. It’s all about working people on court, making sure that the load is shared amongst the team, otherwise people get to that stage where they are just so fatigued they can’t think.”

Fuller said having such a competitive game early in the tournament was good for them.

“There’s no better place to learn how you cope with being under the pump with big heated moments like that than to leave the players out there.

“And Noels [Noeline] and I were at three quarter time and we had the set changes [they planned to make] but Noels said ‘No, we’ve got to learn, and you’ve got to learn when you dig yourself in a hole how to get out of it’.”

A high level of accuracy from all the Silver Ferns shooters also helped break the deadlock.

New Zealand’s shooting accuracy has sat in the early 90s in their opening two games.

Selby-Rickit, who is at her second World Cup, can play both shooting positions and offers something quite different to Nweke.

“I guess a bit of movement so we’ve got two contrasting styles. I know the last World Cup in 2019 had a moving circle with Maria [Tutaia] and Ameliaranne so I think it’s a good option for us to have,” Selby-Rickit said.

The Silver Ferns will meet Singapore in their final pool game tonight.