Grace Nweke of New Zealand during the Netball World Cup 2023, Pool D match between New Zealand and Singapore Photo: Ashley Vlotman
The Silver Ferns have come through their pool with three wins but the coach wasn't entirely happy, despite a 80-19 scoreline over Singapore last night.
And the side didn't come through completely unscathed.
Strike shooter Grace Nweke came off part-way through the third quarter and had an ice pack on her right knee.
Dame Noeline Taurua said it was not serious.
"At the moment the call from the physio is that it's not too bad but just precaution so I'm happy that we took her off so we can ascertain clearly what is the issue but it's okay," Dame Noeline said.
It remains to be seen whether Nweke will be able to play a full game in their next match.
Whitney Souness sat out the game after getting a knock to the calf the day before as a precaution.
After three wins from pool play the Silver Ferns will meet South Africa, Jamaica, and Wales in the second group phase and it will get progressively harder.
Tonight they'll play Wales at 9pm NZ time before finally having a day off.
Then they'll meet South Africa early on Thursday morning, before playing the highly rated Jamaican side, which will determine semi-final placings.
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua at the 2023 Netball World Cup © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix/ www.photosport.nz © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix/ www.photosport.nz Photo: BackPage / www.photosport.nz
That's why Dame Noeline has to maintain high standards.
"Defensively we were able to get a lot of ball but I think our attention to detail in some respects wasn't on point ...just the urgency around when we did have ball in hand."
When it came to doing the little things right, she felt the team went backwards.
"The quality wasn't as good as expected.
"To some degree there are some gaps that are showing [from the pool games] but also to some degree I'm understanding what those gaps are as we move forward so it's exposing ourselves in some respects and that's what's required as we move towards the business end."
When the Silver Ferns are playing opposition they know they are going to dominate, they have to set targets irrespective of the final score.
"We're very clear about what those numbers are so we didn't meet our own expectation and that's the craziest thing, you know you win by so much but our expectations of ourselves and the pressure we put on ourselves to be able to deliver to our values.
"But that's what's required to win, we've been there done that we know what it's about so we've got to be able to walk the talk."
New Zealand team huddle. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Dame Noeline wasn't particularly concerned that Australia and Jamaica have cracked scores over 100 against Fiji and Sri Lanka respectively.
And that's because the Silver Ferns are measuring themselves against themselves.
"That's all we need to focus on. We'll get down to the business end when we get to the business end and what I know is what's happened in the prelim once you get to the semis and finals doesn't matter. We'll just keep chipping away and making sure that we can be better."
Shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who played a full game, echoed the coach's thoughts.
"She always talks about attention to detail ...we're hard on ourselves, she's hard on us but she just wants us to be better and I think there's definitely a few things to tidy up on," Selby-Rickit said.
