Kiwis wary of double Australia, England threat

NEW DELHI (AFP) Defending champions New Zealand believe they would be playing a dangerous game if they concentrated only on bitter rivals Australia in their quest to win Commonwealth Games netball gold. The Silver Ferns are wary too of the threat posed by England as well as Jamaica. Weve talked a lot lately that it wont just be a two-horse race in Delhi and I think the reality will be that that will come true, coach Ruth Aitken told the New Zealand Herald.Any four of the teams on any given day can do the business. England will be buoyed by having clinched victories over Australia and New Zealand since the last Commonwealth Games. But barring a major upset, the final should feature another match-up between the trans-Tasman rivals. Australia struck a major blow ahead of Delhi by beating the New Zealanders 2-1 in a tense, high-action series in Auckland this month, giving them a valuable psychological edge. Aitken admitted her team was hurting after losing the Constellation Cup series so close to the Commonwealth Games, the sports major international showcase. Certainly were really disappointed, but theres time and its also a one-off, so we have to ensure we bring our best game to the court come Delhi, she said. Acerbic Australian coach Norma Plummer, who angered the Silver Ferns shortly after her appointment in 2004 when she described them as scrubbers, said her team was buoyant after their recent series success. This is the team thats going to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games. They need to get out and play like that and not get one win and think, 'Yippee, thats great, she said. The Constellation Cup win, she added, was just everybody playing, everybody getting out and contesting and getting the ball. Veteran attacker Sharelle McMahon captains Australia at her fourth Commonwealth Games, while Natalie von Bertouch, Catherine Cox, Susan Fuhrmann and Susan Pratley were all members of the 2006 silver medal team. Aitkin, meanwhile, has called up former beach volleyball star Anna Scarlett, just weeks after announcing she was returning to netball. Scarlett is one of three recalls for the Ferns 12-strong team, alongside fellow defender Leana de Bruin and shooter Daneka Wipiiti. The latter two missed last years international programme through pregnancy. The real surprise is attacking utility Grace Rasmussen, who will share the wing attack role with veteran Jenny-May Coffin. The tournament also features hosts India, Malawi, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, South Africa and Barbados. Netball has been a Commonwealth sport since 1998 when Australia won gold in Kuala Lumpur, defeating New Zealand. The Australians rubbed more salt into New Zealand wounds by beating them again for the title at Manchester in 2002 before the Silver Ferns won revenge in 2006.

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