3 Sep 2009

World netball coach can't pick a winner between Silver Ferns and Australia

6:04 pm on 3 September 2009

The coach of the world seven side that beat Australia last night, says she can't separate Australia and New Zealand ahead of the first netball test in Sydney on Sunday.

Southern Steel coach Robyn Broughton took over the world seven from New South Wales Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald, after the world side beat the Silver Ferns in their recent test series here.

Despite four new players joining the world side, they still comprehensively outplayed the Australia 52-43 leaving Broughton unable to pick a winner.

She says Australia struggled through the mid court and turned over possession too much and feels the Silver Ferns have similar problems and need to slow the speed of play down at times and concentrate on retaining possession.

Australia may also be without captain Natalie von Bertouch who suffered a sternum in the opening minute of the game and had to leave the court at the end of the first quarter.