Silver Ferns get taller, wiser, better

The Silver Ferns just got taller, wiser and almost certainly better as they officially welcomed their trio of old faces back into the fold yesterday.

As coach Ruth Aitken trimmed her training squad of 14 by two to contest the six upcoming tests and Commonwealth Games in Delhi that follow in October, Canterbury pair Charlotte Kight and Anna Thompson were the unlucky ones to drop out.

That meant a first callup for uncapped Auckland 22-year-old Grace Rasmussen and a recall for previous Ferns Anna Scarlett, Daneka Wipiiti and Leana de Bruin who have all had some time away from the sport.

While Rasmussen and her excitement at cracking the big time was getting most of the attention at yesterday's squad announcement, it was the return of the three old hands that was the more significant part of proceedings.

Suddenly the Ferns defensive line has some serious size and athleticism - or at least a serious upgrade. Scarlett, the 1.87m long-limbed streak of perpetual motion, is back after three years plying beach volleyball and joining her is the 1.90m de Bruin, who had last year off while she brought baby Caleb into the world.

Skipper Casey Williams - a not insignificant 1.88m herself -- couldn't wipe the smile off her face when discussing the return of the twin towers of power and coach Aitken admitted the defensive circle was now officially the least of her worries. 

"They have the experience and knowledge," said Williams of her new defensive compadres. "They've been there and done that before, and having four 'tallies' in there is going to be a benefit for us. The potential and the combinations we now have at the defensive end are huge."

Asked about her potential pairing with Scarlett, Williams smiled warmly. The two were team-mates through 2005 and '06, but rarely played together.

"Scarlett is like a windmill that's annoying to everybody," she said of her team-mate's distinctive style. "She has her own strengths so I'm really looking forward to that."

Aitken said her only concern after three days of pretty intense workouts on the North Shore was knitting together a shooting group featuring two new faces - Wipiiti, the second of the Ferns' new mums, and Rasmussen, who will be the "slider" between wing and goal attack, join the ageless Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia.

"But that's provided another opportunity and different strengths too...the midcourt we're really consolidated there and at the defensive end we've just got truckloads of talent."

Seventy-cap midcourter Temepara George reckoned the return of the three old Ferns provided a real boost to an otherwise established group.

"They are experienced campaigners, you don't have to worry about trying to get them to where they need to be because they know exactly where the have to be," she said.

"And they've got lots to offer too. It's going to be exciting."

Aitken noted Scarlett was still a little "rusty" through the camp, but reckoned the Auckland-based netballing free agent would soon be back to her explosive best.

"She hasn't quite got back into the groove yet but she knows what she wants to do. We certainly know how she can play and how much of a menace she can be out on court."

And Aitken reckoned de Bruin and Wipiiti had returned from their first experiences of motherhood in grand style.

"They were great. Leana is just unbelievable, she's even leaner and stronger than she was before the baby and Daneka has come back looking like she's much more balanced in her life now with Kilani-Mae her little girl. She was very comfortable in the environment and did well."

Rasmussen said she had been travelling in a car with her three sisters when Aitken's call came. "When she told me she'd love me to be part of the 12 I had to take a moment to gather myself. My sisters were all screaming.

"The feeling is surreal at the moment. I'm still trying to grasp the fact I made the final 12 to travel to the Commonwealth Games," added the new cap.

Rasmussen, who played mostly at wing-attack this year for the Mystics, said she's ready to slot into goal-attack if needed. Aitken intends having a look at her there.

"She's really creative with ball in hand, she's sneaky and she's now got a strength and conditioning base and power base that's starting to add to her game."

The Ferns gather in Wellington on Wednesday and open their international season with a one-off test against Samoa at Porirua next Saturday.

Silver Ferns squad: Liana Barrett-Chase, Leana de Bruin, Temepara George (vice-captain), Katrina Grant, Joline Henry, Laura Langman, Grace Rasmussen, Anna Scarlett, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk, Casey Williams (captain), Daneka Wipiiti.

- © Fairfax NZ News