Netball: World Seven not at full strength?

Silver Fern Casey Williams tries to prevent the carnage in Rotorua which saw the World Seven complete a winning double. Photo / Getty Images

The likelihood of the World Seven continuing their winning run across the Tasman appears slim.

The world selection team that takes on Australia next week will be significantly weaker to that which is on the verge of pulling off a series whitewash against the Silver Ferns in Auckland tomorrow.

The Australian contingent of Natasha Chokljat, Peta Scholz, Megan Dehn and Demelza Fellowes will be replaced by a group of Kiwi players for the one-off test in Adelaide on Wednesday, with Wendy Telfer, Donna Wilkins, Debbie White and Vilimaina Davu named by Netball Australia this week for the unique fixture.

Netball Australia's selections have raised a few eyebrows in New Zealand, with bemusement over the inclusion of White and Davu in particular.

Silver Ferns defender Sheryl Scanlan, who was dropped from the test side this month, put her name forward for the match. Curiously, Netball Australia included Davu, who was unlikely to be re-signed to the Northern Mystics for next year's ANZ Championship.

There are similar question marks over White, who sits well down the pecking order in terms of Kiwi midcourters.

Cushla Lichtwark, Phillipa Finch, Erika Burgess and Camilla Lees are all ranked above White in the New Zealand system.

Robyn Broughton, who will coach the World Seven in next week's test, believes she could have had a much stronger line-up.

"I thought that they would have used Sheryl [Scanlan], but I have no idea why not. They certainly didn't say anything to us about it," said Broughton yesterday.

"Sheryl is still in the New Zealand squad and has been playing really well, so I was really surprised about that.

"But the opposition coaches have a lot to do with determining who plays for the world team, so it's up to them really."

After the world team's impressive performances against the Silver Ferns this week, Broughton believes it will be a much tougher ask to pull off a similar upset in Adelaide.

She said the veteran Aussies in the World Seven had all played a major hand in orchestrating the Ferns' downfall. "I think Dehn, Scholz and Chokjlat have all been really outstanding to be honest, they've played a big part in those wins."

While the Silver Ferns might have been caught off guard by just how competitive the World Seven have been, Broughton said she hasn't at all been surprised at how well the visitors have played.

"They're all very experienced players and extremely talented. They've all had a lot of experience playing against the Ferns in the ANZ Championships and what have you. It's a small world netball, you know one another pretty well."

"I looked at the World Team and thought there was no pressure on them and they are obviously really enjoying playing with one another."

WORLD TEAM TO FACE AUSTRALIA
Romelda Aiken (Jamaica), Donna Wilkins (NZ), Louisa Brownfield (England), Cathrine Latu (Samoa), Tamsin Greenway (England), Frances Solia (Samoa), Debbie White (NZ), Wendy Telfer (NZ), Vilimaina Davu (NZ, Fiji), Geva Mentor (England), Sonia Mkoloma (England), Althea Byfield (Jamaica).