What is Wrong with the Silver Ferns?

In 1998, the All Blacks experienced their annus horriblis, finishing the year with 5 losses in a row. Back then, the media reaction was brutal even though the All Blacks had clearly just gone through a major transition as a result of coping with the retirements of Sean Fitzpatrick and Zinzan Brooke.

16 years on, New Zealand's third most followed team is definitely in the middle of its annus horriblis - 6 losses in a row with a game to play against England to redeem something from a nightmare season.

There is a bit of a sense of deja vu, what with the shock retirement of Irene van Dyk denying the Silver Ferns the best goal shoot in the world as well as a season-ending injury to captain Casey Kopua - although the Ferns were playing poorly even with the inspirational Kopua at the back.

There are lots of young players in the squad but the chasm between experience and youth is bigger than it has ever been. The lack of experience to draw from to get out of this losing run is evident.

The ironic thing with this run is that New Zealand netball is in a better place than it has been - there are more players coming through lured by the semi-professional nature of the game and there is more TV money thanks to New Zealand netball's deal with Sky. This despite the fact that more girls are spending their Saturdays and Sundays working at Glassons and Jeanswest rather than out in the netball court. This despite the fact that girls in New Zealand have more choice when it comes to sport, i.e. being able to play rugby, soccer, hockey, etc.

For coach, Waimarama Taumaunu, a win against England is vital now as a morale booster - a 7th defeat in a row could possibly seal her fate in the job and put New Zealand netball at its lowest ebb. To be 2nd behind Australia, whilst unacceptable is somewhat tolerable. To be 3rd best in the world, is an absolute disaster for a country that prides itself as being one of the top 2 netball powers in the world.

With the 2015 World Cup in Sydney next year and the lack of experience clear to see in the Silver Ferns, could a SOS call to Irene van Dyk be on the cards? It might look like a step backwards but the Silver Ferns could not be any more further behind Australia than they are right now.

Any move to turn it around for the Silver Ferns will be quite desperate but vital if the sport is to not undo all the hard work of making it as financially viable as rugby in this country.