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The Silver Ferns are looking to recapture winning form. Captain Adine Wilson answers some tough questions from the Herald.
Are you ready?
"It feels like we have made some huge steps together as a team. For this team we needed time on court together. It has been great meeting on a regular basis and getting on court together."
You were in the team in 1999 when New Zealand lost by one goal and there in 2003 when they won. What have you taken from those experiences?
"In 2003 we had what we called 'what-ifs'. We had gone over everything and anything that could happen. We have tried to repeat that this time. Within camps we have had little bits and pieces thrown at us so we are not shocked by anything. We have practised being down by x amount or someone being sent off, or the lights going out, or we are in the hotel the day of the game and the fire alarms go on or we get stuck in traffic getting to the game. I think those things count."
Has being captain changed the way you approach the game?
"I had a bit of a dream run when I first took on the captaincy. We went through a period of not having any losses. It is pretty easy to captain when you are winning. It makes it a lot more difficult when things are a bit tougher so I think I have learnt a huge amount over the last year, just having to deal with things not going exactly to plan and being able to pull the team together. As people say, you learn more from losses and we have definitely looked at why we have lost, and what we need to work on."
Who do you think will be your toughest opponent?
"Our first game against Malawi will be interesting. I remember playing them at the Commonwealth Games and they are so safe with the ball that it is so frustrating because you can't get it off them. They are prepared to throw it from the goal shoot, work it back to the goal keep and back down to the goal shoot again. I remember being absolutely shattered after that game just because of the amount of running we did. The top four - Jamaica, New Zealand, England, Australia - I think it is the tightest it has ever been. It is often a race between New Zealand and Australia but I don't think that will the case this time. Come semifinals there could be some interesting results... hopefully, in our case, it will be the result we want."
Who do you think will be the toughest wing defence you will come up against?
"If we [both] make it through to the final [Australian] Selina Gilsenan. She keeps me very honest. If I start running around like a chicken with my head cut off she punishes me for it. The English wing defence Amanda Newton is also strong."
How will you cope with the pressure now the tournament is at home?
"I know that everyone wants us to win, but we want to win 10 times more than anyone else. We want to do New Zealand proud for sure, but, at the same time, we are competitive, driven women who want to win so badly."
Who do you go to for advice?
"Robyn Broughton. She has a wise head on her shoulders and she always brings me down to earth and keeps me very calm. I often will talk to Robbie about how things are going and [husband] Jeff [Wilson] as well. He is always a great sounding board. Those two are probably my go- tos when things are getting tough."
Are you superstitious?
"I had been quite superstitious, but after this year am not so much anymore. I think winning makes it worse because if you keep winning you think 'I am doing all the right things' so it was the right bra, undies, socks which dress you wore, which warm up tee shirt you wore, what you did to prepare, whether you had curly hair or straight hair. I have now realised that whether my hair is curly or straight it does not have an impact on whether we will win or not."
Do you have a lot of friends outside netball?
"I have always been inclined to have my closest friends outside netball. I love the netball girls to pieces but, for me, I have always been one that needs to get away from it as well. I suppose that is where I am lucky that all my old varsity friends would ask me the most hilarious questions about netball because they had no idea that I loved it. I have been lucky with the group of friends I have who have allowed me to do that."
What are your interests outside netball?
"After the world champs, Jeff and I are off on holiday. We are going to the States and Canada and are going snowboarding. Travel is also something that I enjoy. We are lucky in that we live on the beach in Dunedin so I love being able to go to the beach with the dog every day if possible. I like normal things - going our for dinner, to the movies... that sort of thing."
Your fans are perhaps a little worried about the Silver Ferns midcourt and how you will cope without Temepara George?
"It goes back to that time on court together. In the last year those combinations have only been tested while we are playing, because we have had limited build-up. For us, I just feel it has been nice to meet on a regular basis and practise together in a game situation. It has been nice to be by ourselves in little stadiums doing the hard work."
How do you feel about Australia?
"They are exceptionally strong. I agree with Norma [Plummer] where she said she has named the strongest team she has ever named. But in saying that our team has the potential to win the world cup. I have full faith in the ability of the team. "
Will you retire after the world champs?
"I'll make all those other decisions after the worlds. I don't want to tie myself either way before then. I think Tasman Trophy is an exciting competition and one that will be awesome for netball."
