Netball: Plummer rejects talk team not good enough for medal

Norma Plummer

SYDNEY - Australian coach Norma Plummer has bristled at suggestions her defending champions may miss the Commonwealth Games medal podium in Melbourne next month.

The colourful Plummer angrily rejected suggestions that her relatively inexperienced and understrength squad may miss out on a Commonwealth medal for the first time.

Despite losing inspirational captain and defender Liz Ellis to a knee injury, Plummer stressed that the Australians - ranked No 2 behind hot favourites New Zealand for gold - would not abdicate without a fight.

"There's absolutely no way that we won't be there, far from it. People can think what they want. We'll just wait until we get there on the day."

The gold medal match is the last event of the Commonwealth Games on March 26, but should the hosts lose to the No 3 ranked Jamaicans, the unpalatable prospect of a semifinal against the Silver Ferns looms.

Plummer argued that New Zealand, as favourites, were under extreme pressure, having beaten Australia by a record 61-36 in their last meeting in Auckland in October.

"It's not worrying us - the pressure is on them," Plummer told the Sun Herald newspaper.

"They've got to maintain it and it's up to us to go in there and throw everything at it. We've got nothing to lose."

Plummer conceded that the Jamaicans demanded respect despite the Australians' impressive record - 26 wins and three losses - against the Caribbean nation.

"They just knocked off England in a fairly torrid game and they want to win it," Plummer said.

"It's a bit of an issue and we're not underestimating them ... we're very aware of where we can come undone."

Ellis, who will miss her first Commonwealth Games since netball was included in 1998, is also wary of Jamaica.

"I'm expecting Jamaica to be particularly tough. We don't want to lose to them in the round matches because we don't want to have to play New Zealand in the semifinal.

"I would expect Australia to beat Jamaica but I know they're not going to take them lightly. They're a physical team but they're also very skilful so you can't get too caught up in thinking they're just rough."

Ellis said it would take "an absolute disaster" for Australia to miss out on a medal, and even with an understrength side she expected nothing less than gold from her team-mates.

England, under former Victorian Institute of Sport coach Marg Caldow, are also looming as an outside threat to Australia's medal hopes.

Should Australia beat Jamaica and top their pool, they will probably play the No 4 ranked side in the semifinals.

Nigel Holl, performance director for England Netball, said the team had a medal firmly in their sights.

"We're very positive about our chances. Australia have lost a couple of key players we'd be confident of giving them a very strong match."

- NZPA