A new era for the Silver Ferns as coach Wai Taumaunu (3rd left) leads the way.
Waimarama (Wai) Taumaunu took over the reins as Silver Ferns coach in a swift change after the World Netball Championships loss as Ruth Aitken made herself unavailable for personal reasons. It wasn’t the optimal start to her reign as coach, with the Diamonds triumphing over the Silver Ferns in the Constellation Cup. This was the first time the Silver Ferns lost two matches in a row against the Australian side.
Taumaunu brings a “new voice” into the team, though she continues quite frankly, “although probably saying much the same thing”.
Over these next few years, Taumaunu will be working specifically with the Silver Ferns on centre pass conversions and improving the team’s loss/gain ratio.
The rivalry
Before Wai Taumaunu stepped up as the head coach of the Silver Ferns, she was sitting in the background as assistant coach, observing the intense rivalry between Ruth Aitken and Norma Plummer.
The rivalry was so fierce between the Silver Ferns and Australian Diamonds that no team would win two consecutive matches under these two coaches.
“I never saw this rivalry as a personal thing,” Taumaunu told Netball Scoop.
“Away from the court both are great ladies,” she continued.
“In my view the rivalry began and ended on court.”
Wai names players with potential
Malysha Kelly (GD), a player to look out for! Image credit: Stanley Yeo.
Now is the time to blood new players and focus on the future as we look to the upcoming 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 World Netball Championships. After the World Championships the Silver Ferns have already begun developing new players, introducing defenders Kayla Cullen and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick into the side.
Taumaunu took the time to name exciting and up and coming netballers from around the world:
New Zealand
The Silver Ferns coach has named Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Jessica Bourke as players of the future. Selby-Rickit has one season of ANZ Championship experience under her belt, signed again this year to the Southern Steel whilst Bourke is a part of the New Zealand U21 Squad.
Jamaica
Sasha-Gay Lynch and Malysha Kelly both play for Jamaica as defenders for the Sunshine Girls, who placed 4th place at the 2011 World Netball Championships.
Australia
Youngsters Kate Shimmin and Kristina Brice have been noted by the coach. Kate Shimmin is in her second year with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, impressing with her defence on the shot. At 197cm, Brice is a tall target in the shooting circle and was named in this year’s NSW U19 State Team.
England
Kadeen Corbin and Sophia Candappa were both recently selected for the England Team in a series of tests against New Zealand and Australia. Both play in the Superleague in England, with Corbin as a shooter and Candappa in the midcourt.
Daya Wiffen will miss the action at this weekend's preseason tournament. Image credit: Simon Leonard.
The Central Pulse’s Jamilah Gupwell and Daya Wiffen will both miss the ANZ Championship pre-season tournament in Tauranga this weekend.
Gupwell is sidelined with calf and wrist injuries. She will be replaced by former Pulse shooter Te Amo Amaru-Tibble for the warm-up event.
Wiffen, is pacing her return to court after giving birth in December, but she expects to receive clearance to play within the the next fortnight. Wellington midcourter Stacey McFeeters will travel to Tauranga as cover.
Coach Robyn Broughton is pleased with her side’s pre-season and is confident her squad will be fit for the start of the championship on April 1.
“We’ve had some really good games recently. There’s a lot of optimism,” Broughton said.
“They’ve had to adapt to me, and me to them. They’re doing what I’ve asked.”
At training yesterday, Broughton used her strongest seven, including Camilla Lees who flew in from England a few days ago, to start against a local men’s side. New recruit Katarina Cooper is being groomed to play wing attack, while fellow Pulse newcomers Joline Henry, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, and Paula Griffin, slotted in respectively at wing defence, goal defence and goal attack.
Result for Puteri UMNO Netball Tournament last weekend :
1. Cobra (x sure which Cobra)
2. Legend ...
gogo Post at 5-3-2012 17:20
cobra b mng, tp sbnrnye cobra A dorg tukar nama je ( which i think x perlu pn )
legend A runner up ( the big shooter remind me of catherine latu of SF )
royale x menjadi dah skrg. phoenix ?? what happen?
glad to see ade team dr brunei..... hebat juga.
but i just wanna comment on umpires. some of them are very new, inexperience, need to be more sensitive when it comes to this level.
Author
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Post time 9-3-2012 07:44 PM
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