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Irene Van Dyk - Source: ONE Sport -
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The Silver Ferns will head into uncharted waters in 2009, as they take on a world invitational seven in a three match series across New Zealand.
The composite side is made of standout individuals from England and Jamaica, as well as several Australians and a sole Samoan representative.
The Jamaican trio of Simone Forbes, Althea Byfield and Romelda Aiken are world-class performers with Aiken one of the best shooters in the world.
Imposing English defenders Geva Mentor and Sonia Mkoloma should provide a stern test for the Ferns attacking squadron.
The Australians are all ex-national representatives, with the highly rated Vixens midcourter Natasha Chokljat sure to be a real standout. Samoan Frances Solia is part of the strong Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and will enjoy facing her provincial team mates.
The world selection is coached by highly regarded
Australian Julie Fitzgerald who guided the Sydney Swifts to the
2008 ANZ Championship title. Fitzgerald also won the coach of the
year that season and is seen as a potential future successor to
Norma Plummer as the Australian coach.
Intensity
The novelty of the new format is sure to draw a lot of attention and interest, but there will be plenty of intensity in the three-match series.
Competition is red-hot within Ruth Aitken's Silver Ferns squad, and they will all be playing for places in the subsequent five-match series with Australia and the tour to England towards the end of 2009.
Aitken is well aware of the challenges posed by Fitzgerald's squad, especially from giant Jamaican shooter Aiken (who has proved almost unstoppable in the past when given the right service).
Aitken has already admitted that the weight of expectation will be firmly on the shoulders of her squad.
"All the responsibility is on us - we've got the most to lose," Aitken says.
"But we really back the talent we've got, and our job is to get them playing well as a team. This is all about us focusing on our game and our players."
Driving force
From the New Zealand perspective there will be huge interest in
the performance of livewire centre Temepara George who returns
after a two year self-imposed exile.
George, 33, was a driving force behind the 2003 World Championship
truimph and brings more creativity to the midcourt than her
predecessor, the hard-working veteran Julie Seymour.
New captain Casey Williams is relatively young (24) and has only 31 caps but has impressed many with her confidence and maturity and seems a great choice for the role.
Coach Aitken may also take the chance to blood one of several
youngsters during the series, with the Tactix's Larissa Willcox and
Anna Thompson set to make their international debuts. Wilcox's
selection ahead of stalwart Ferns player Sherly Scanlan
has caused quite a stir .
History repeats?
The first test will be played in Wellington on Monday August 24
with the second two days later in Rotorua. The third and final test
is in Auckland on Saturday August 29.
Get the full Silver Ferns 2009 Schedule
It will be a very special occasion but is not the first time the Ferns have taken on the best the netball world has to offer.
Back in 2000 the Yvonne Willering-coached New Zealand side took on a World selection featuring Kath Harby-Williams, Elaine Davis (Jamaica) and Vilimaina Davu (Fiji). Davu would later switch nations and represent the Ferns with some distinction.
Irene Van Dyk and Temepara George are the only survivors from that series, which was won 3-0 by New Zealand
World Seven - Key players :
Romelda Aitken: The 20-year Goal shoot starred for Jamaica at the 2007 World Championships, managing an incredible 89% shooting percentage as the Caribbean nation finished third. Aitken was named player of the year in the ANZ Championship representing the Queensland Firebirds.
Sonia Mokoloma: The 30-year-old England captain is recognized as one of the best defenders in the world. After playing for the struggling Pulse in 2007, the Englishwoman switched to Canterbury Tactix and was a key figure in the Southern franchise finishing a creditable 6th.
Silver Ferns - Key Players:
Irene Van Dyk: After ten seasons and 92 caps the South African-born Van Dyk remains the key figure for the Ferns. If she performs, they tend to win and the 36-year-old is still the most accurate shooter in the world. It was a frustrating season at the Magic in 2009 and one suspects Van Dyk will be firing on all cylinders for the international swing.
Casey Williams: The new captain is one of the most competitive netballers on the planet and tends to dominate her opponents physically. Williams will have to be at her very best to counteract the threat of Aiken. The Magic star will look to fire up her charges with some trademark intercepts and turnovers.
Silver Ferns squad:
Liana Barrett-Chase (Steel), Maree Bowden (Tactix), Temepara George
(Mystics), Katrina Grant (Steel), Paula Griffin (Pulse), Joline
Henry (Magic), Laura Langman (Magic), Sheryl Scanlan (Steel), Anna
Thompson (Tactix), Maria Tutaia (Magic), Irene van Dyk (Magic),
Casey Williams (Magic, captain).
World Seven squad:
Simone Forbes (Jamaica), Louisa Brownfield (England), Peta Scholz
(Australia), Frances Solia (Samoa), Geva Mentor (England), Sonia
Mokoloma (England), Althea Byfield (Jamaica), Natasha Chokljat
(Australia), Delmeza McCloud (Australia), Tamsin Greenway
(England), Megan Dehn (Australia).
Don't miss the Silver Ferns take on the World Team this month. ONE
Sport has all the action. Get details
HERE .
