Netball: Norma plumbs new depths on van Dyk

Norma Plummer. Photo / Richard Robinson

Australia coach Norma Plummer has questioned the legitimacy of Irene van Dyk's milestone 100th test for New Zealand.

Van Dyk is expected to rack up her century for the Silver Ferns in tonight's fifth and final test against Australia in Auckland.

The impressive tally includes the 2-1 series defeat to the World Seven last month.

The World Seven went on to beat Australia in a one-off encounter that wasn't given test status by the Australians.

Plummer told NZPA she was "amazed" New Zealand had awarded caps against the world selection.

"Do they actually count those practice matches as caps?" she asked. "The rest of the world is not a country. I don't know how they can give her that honour."

Plummer compared the situation with rugby, where a match against the Barbarians would not be considered a test.

"But good luck to Irene," she said. "I was just surprised. I thought all countries were on the same page on what is a test match."

New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken backed the awarding of caps for the World Seven series, saying the quality of the matches and of the opposition deserved it.

"They felt pretty intense to me; they were as good as you could find," she said.