While the Silver Ferns' upcoming clash against the New Zealand Invitation Men's team is being hailed as quality competition for the national side ahead of July's World Cup, former head coach Yvonne Willering has sounded a warning.
Netball New Zealand confirmed yesterday that the Silver Ferns would playthe men's side in June as part of an International Netball Series including the Fiji Pearls and an All Stars side at Auckland's Pulman Arena.
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua said it would be a pleasant challenge for her side, but speaking to Radio Sport, Willering said she held fears over the increased chance of injury and questioned whether the timing was right.
The Silver Ferns. Photo / Getty
"The teams have played against the men for a number of years but we've had constraints in place because they do play a different game," Willering said. "My only concern is the injury factor because they're going to come out hard and strong.
"It's in front of the New Zealand public, it's televised, this is [the men's] opportunity to showcase what they're about so even if they've got some constraints put on them ... my concern is the injury."
Willering, who led New Zealand to a silver medal in the 1998 Commonwealth Games, said the match-up was a catch-22.
"Will it be a tough game? Absolutely. Do the Ferns require that? Yes, definitely, but again, we've got to go into the World Cup with no injuries," she added.
"They're so unpredictable and they're just coming together as an invitational team so it's not like you can read play for a start ... they are strong, they're tough and some of these guys have been playing for quite a while.
Silver Ferns head coach Noeline Taurua. Photo / Getty
Meanwhile, Taurua told D'Arcy Waldegrave on Radio Sport yesterday that she looked forward to the game, even if it didn't result in a win for her side.
"This is big, not only for the Silver Ferns but for our brand ... no one's ever done it before," Taurua said.
"The only offset to that is losing before the Worlds, possibly. More than likely they could beat us because we don't have the elevation or that same aerial gain.
"But we've gone in the past when we've absolutely smashed opposition going into the World Cup and we over-inflate what we think we are so I'm happy with it, I think it's great ... we're going to get as good quality competition as we can leading into the Worlds and that's what it's all about."
The Silver Ferns' pre-World Cup Series tips off on June 26.
