Netball: Coach enjoys a surfeit of talent

Adine Wilson has been a star for the Silver Ferns this year. Picture / Richard Robinson

Ten days is all Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken has to decide which 12 players will represent New Zealand at next year's Commonwealth Games.

Having cast aside every challenge this year, the Silver Ferns will go into the March Games in Melbourne as firm favourites, a position they are not exactly familiar with, having lived in the shadow of Australia for so long.

But before Aitken devises a plan of attack for the Games she has to select the 12 women she deems most capable of succeeding.

This task has been made more difficult by her success this year in blooding several new players, in turn increasing the player pool.

"Everyone in this group has put their hand up," Aitken said referring to the 12 who went to Jamaica.

"The depth in the squad is growing which I think is a reflection of the great competition we have in the National Bank Cup and the work that is being done in the regions and franchises.

"There are going to be some hard decisions but it is a nice position to be in."

To be fair it is difficult to look past the 12 players who ripped apart Australia then walked over Jamaica and Barbados.

The seven who started against Australia - Irene van Dyk, Jodi Te Huna, Adine Wilson, Temepara George, Laura Langman, Anna Scarlett and Vilimaina Davu - should be certainties.

Recalled players Belinda Colling and Anna Rowberry probably did enough in Jamaica to ensure their places are safe, while youngsters Maria Tutaia and Casey Williams showed enough potential to warrant places. Williams, however, has competition from some big names.

Defensively, Aitken is spoilt for choice. As well as Davu, Scarlett, Williams and Leana de Bruin she also has former Ferns Sheryl Scanlan and Joline Henry to consider.

Although Scanlan has grappled with her fitness in recent times, she is competent at goal defence and wing defence, and this versatility makes her an option worth considering.

At the moment Scarlett is being used as backup to Langman and, understandably, takes some time to settle into it. Despite that, Scarlett has Aitken's backing because she improves at every opportunity.

"She improves at every opportunity she gets at wing defence. so we are confident she can cover that wing defence position if we need her to," Aitken said.

After the announcement of the team on November 30, players join training camps in January and February. They hope to go to Australia in February for matches against club sides and will return a week before the Games where they will play other international teams who want practice matches.

"We have to continue to put ourselves under pressure and I am confident this group has the motivation to do that," Aitken said. "When we meet these teams at the Commonwealth Games they will be vastly improved. We have got to get better."

2005 SILVER FERNS

* Eight games, eight wins.

* Beat England in a three-test series in March 52-30, 74-30 and 55-40.

* Beat Australia in one-off test in June 50-43.

* Beat Australia in in a one-off test in November 61-36.

* Scored a clean sweep in the Tri-Series this month. Beat Jamaica 57-39, Barbados 72-21 and Jamaica (in the final) 62-32.