Wing attack wide open as Silver Ferns named for series

Silver Ferns selectors have named teams for this month's series against England and Australia in October with one particular position up for grabs.

There are two new caps across the Test matches with shooter Amelia Walmsley headlining the Silver Ferns team to play against England, while defender Kate Burley is in line for her debut after being named for the Constellation Cup.

The Silver Ferns hope to have shooter Grace Nweke back in action for the four-Test series against Australia after she was ruled out early on in last month's World Cup with a partial tear of her patella tendon.

There had been plenty of anticipation that Mystics midcourter Peta Toeava would feature in these series after being promoted into the Silver Ferns squad last month.

But the 29-year-old has not been named for either series after falling short of fitness targets.

"After having the break she's not quite ready for international netball so we're working with her to get her up to where she needs.

"There's quite a few areas that we need to support her in, and fitness is one area, there's quite a few things that we want to make sure that she's ready when the opportunity does present," Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua said.

Toeava is on a 'graduated return to play programme' and has been named in a New Zealand A side, while she will also train in camp with the Silver Ferns.

Netball World Cup travelling reserve Mila Reuelu-Buchanan has also been named for both series. There is an opening in the midcourt with veteran wing attack Gina Crampton taking a long sabbatical.

Dame Noeline said Reuelu-Buchanan, Maddy Gordon and Whitney Souness are wing attack options.

"Whitney with her experience at the World Cup will probably be the contender but also we know we have a bit of work to do in that whole attacking end.

"We've also been working Mila behind the scenes in the wing attack-centre role. We also know that Maddy can play there as well."

Jane Watson has been named in a consolidated defensive end.

Watson had a foot injury before the World Cup, which meant she couldn't take part in all the on court build up.

Dame Noeline said it had an impact on her during the World Cup.

"We were able to get her to the degree of being able to play at the Netball World Cup but that will come out in the review as to when you're not on court or you're not able to train.

"Then that makes a difference in regards to strategy or her ability to know what needs to happen out on court and to some degree the ability to play a certain type of game and the timing of that so there was an impact there.

"I'm elated to have her back in the mix with Taini Jamison and Constellation Cup knowing that we don't have to manage her but also knowing what we would expect to get out of her, which is a world class athlete, so there was a difference as to what we could and couldn't do and we had to manage as we were going along."

The NZA team will have a training match against England before the visitors take on the Silver Ferns in match one of the Taini Jamison Trophy on 24 September in Christchurch.

Coach Dame Noeline Taurua said the teams could give an insight into what the future of Silver Ferns netball could look like in the years to come.

"We took a number of young players away with us to the Commonwealth Games and Netball World Cup who have gained valuable experience from both pinnacle events, which will also work towards setting us up for the next four-year cycle.

"And then we've had some young netballers who have been knocking on the door this year with their performances at ANZ Premiership level and who are preparing to be ready to challenge for selections and who I believe want to make an impression when they get the opportunity in the black dress.

"We take the knock from South Africa, learn the lessons, identify our strengths and reconfigure our systems. Then we grab the opportunities we have in the Cadbury Netball Series playing for the Taini Jamison Trophy against England and the Constellation Cup against Australia."

Dame Noeline said she was frustrated and disappointed after England Netball named their side last week, which does not include anyone from their World Cup team.

"Knowing what international netball means and the branding of that and being a global sport as to how we all want to put our best foot forward.

"But we've got to get on with it ...we're relatively still inexperience as well and these players have to get as much international exposure as they can."

Six weeks on from finishing fourth at the Netball World Cup in South Africa, Dame Noeline said they were still digesting a disappointing campaign.

"There's clear areas of our on court strategy that needs to be better. We were five or six points away from England and Jamaica without even playing Australia and coughed up ball especially when we were under pressure.

"Taking the ball from one end of the court to the other is definitely a work on and other things I think that we can do in regards to our systems to improve."

The NZA team also features defender Michaela Sokolich-Beatson who makes a return to the elite programme for the first time in four years.

Sokolich-Beatson has 11 caps for the Silver Ferns, making her debut in 2018, but suffered two ruptured Achilles tendons within the space of nine months ruling her out of action in 2020 and 2021.

A FAST5 Ferns team of 10 has been confirmed for November's FAST5 Netball World Series in Christchurch.

SILVER FERNS - Taini Jamison Trophy vs England

• Karin Burger
• Ameliaranne Ekenasio
• Maddy Gordon
• Kate Heffernan
• Kelly Jury
• Phoenix Karaka
• Tiana Metuarau
• Mila Reuelu-Buchanan
• Whitney Souness
• Amelia Walmsley
• Jane Watson
• Maia Wilson

SILVER FERNS - Constellation Cup vs Australia

• Karin Burger
• Kate Burley
• Ameliaranne Ekenasio
• Maddy Gordon
• Kate Heffernan
• Kelly Jury
• Phoenix Karaka
• Tiana Metuarau
• Grace Nweke*
• Mila Reuelu-Buchanan
• Whitney Souness
• Amelia Walmsley
• Jane Watson
• Maia Wilson

*Subject to medical clearance

NEW ZEALAND A vs England

• Tayla Earle
• Georgia Heffernan
• Fa'amu Ioane
• Paris Lokotui
• Amorangi Malesala
• Kimiora Poi
• Michaeal Sokolich-Beatson
• Carys Stythe
• Elle Temu
• Peta Toeava**
• Saviour Tui

**Graduated return to play programme

FAST5 FERNS

• Kate Burley
• Tayla Earle
• Paris Lokotui
• Amorangi Malesala
• Tiana Metuarau
• Grace Nweke*
• Michaela Sokolich-Beatson
• Whitney Souness
• Elle Temu
• Maia Wilson

*Subject to medical clearance