Netball: Aussie Fern comes out of the blue

Australian-domiciled Larrissa Willcox joins the Silver Ferns after impressing in a trial. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Larrissa Willcox's mind started ticking over at 100 miles an hour when she first heard the shock news she had made the Silver Ferns.

Among the thoughts flying through her head were: What? Who? Me? Gotta call mum and dad; must learn the national anthem.

The New Zealand-born, Australian domiciled defender was a surprise selection in the Ferns side for the World Seven series beginning in Wellington on Monday, with Willcox initially not even included in the New Zealand squad.

She was invited to trial with the Ferns this week with the potential for the Canterbury Tactix defender to be added to the wider squad. But the selectors were so impressed with what they saw that Willcox was promoted straight into the test line-up.

Her phenomenal rise to the top means she has very little time to get her head around being a Silver Fern before she dons the black dress for the first time on Monday.

As well as getting used to a new training environment and learning all the protocols that come with being a Silver Fern, Willcox also needs to hastily learn the words to the national anthem.

"I'm having singing lessons with the nutritionist later!" Willcox joked in her typical Aussie twang.

After being told of the news yesterday morning, Willcox was whisked into her first training session with the team, but not before sharing the news with her family back home in Perth.

Willcox paid no mind to the five-hour time difference, happily waking up her parents Shane and Leanne at 3 o'clock in the morning.

"My mum was quite emotional at the time, and I was obviously a little bit shaky on the phone," she said.

Before the advent of the ANZ Championship, few people in New Zealand netball circles had even heard of Willcox.

The 26-year-old was born in Raetihi, a small Central North Island town nestled in the shadow of Mt Ruapehu, but moved to Perth with her family when she was 7.

The athletic defender made her way through the netballing ranks in Western Australia, playing for the Perth Orioles for five seasons in Australia's old domestic competition.

It was not until the introduction of the transtasman league that Willcox, playing for the West Coast Fever, caught the attention of New Zealand netball officials. A move to the Canterbury Tactix this year then opened up the possibility of becoming involved in the national programme.

Silver Ferns assistant coach Waimarama Taumaunu said that while Willcox was not initially part of the Ferns' plans this year, in the short space of time she has been here, she had done enough to warrant inclusion in the national programme.

"I think the thing we were most impressed with through the period was her athleticism and the drive she brings through the court. She has a great physique, enormous athleticism and a wonderful attitude."

Taumaunu admits the selectors have taken a gamble on Willcox, but it is one they are confident will pay off.

"She's a wildcard, there's no doubt about that, but certainly a calculated wildcard on our part, I think," she said.

"Before the series we said we wanted to grow internationally capable netballers over the season and if we don't take a punt we probably won't be able to do that."

Willcox joins Tactix teammate Anna Thompson as the two new faces in the team, while midcourt veteran Temepara George makes a predictable return after a two-year break from international netball.

Taumaunu said George's return to the test line-up opened up a raft of exciting attacking options in the midcourt.

The world selection team, which includes ANZ Championship stars Geva Mentor, Sonia Mkoloma, Romelda Aiken and Natasha Chokjlat, brings together some of the jewels in the crown of English, Jamaican, Australian and Samoan netball. They are expected to give the Silver Ferns a serious run for their money in the three-test series.

WHO AND WHEN

Larrissa Willcox

Born: 27/11/1982, Raetihi
Height: 1.82m
Positions: GK, GD, WD
Team: Canterbury Tactix
Previous teams: West Coast Fever, Perth Orioles

Silver Ferns team

Liana Barrett-Chase
Maree Bowden
Temepara George Katrina Grant
Paula Griffin
Joline Henry
Laura Langman
Larrissa Willcox
Anna Thompson
Maria Tutaia
Irene van Dyk
Casey Williams (capt)

Silver Ferns v World Seven

* Monday August 24, Wellington
* Wednesday August 26, Rotorua
* Saturday August 29, Auckland