The Silver Ferns defenders celebrate success against South Africa. Photo: Photosport
Interim Silver Ferns coach Yvette McCausland-Durie says their emphatic first-test win over South Africa has restored some of the mana "dented" by the turmoil surrounding them.
New Zealand returned to court with a 77-51 victory in Auckland, showing few signs of the unrest caused by this month's shock announcement that head coach Dame Noeline Taurua and her assistant coaches were being stood down by Netball NZ for the three-match Taini Jamison series.
RNZ understands some players complained about Taurua's leadership and communication style after a training camp in Sydney earlier this year, prompting a review from the national body.
McCausland-Durie, called in at short notice as a replacement coach for the South Africa series only, said it was "critically important" they began the series strongly.
"We have a huge amount of pride in the legacy and the mana of the Silver Ferns," McCausland-Durie said.
"We needed to uphold that. We know it's been dented and there's lots of challenge. Certainly for this group, they just kept focus.
"Really proud of our players. For me, it was the fact that they stuck to tasks so we had really clear focus... everyone made a contribution."
New Zealand captain Karin Burger during the game against South Africa in Auckland. Photo: Photosport
New Zealand captain Karin Burger, who made a number of turnovers at the defensive end, said the match meant more to her than usual on a personal basis.
She indicated the coaching of Taurua and assistant coach Debbie Fuller still had some impact on the way the Silver Ferns played and she believed the pair would be "proud" of the teams' performance.
"Obviously being a more experienced player in this group and having had longer relationships with Noels and Debs... there's a lot of pride in that," Burger said.
"Being able to show them that we're working hard on everything they have put in, in the background. And playing in a way that would make the dress proud, and them as well."
With New Zealand defending with intensity and having joy finding shooter Grace Nweke at the attacking end, they opened up 20-8 lead in the first quarter.
That was extended to 41-22 by halftime, although McCausland-Durie believes her side weren't as "clinical" after that and put Nweke under pressure unnecessarily.
Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke wins the ball from Proteas defender Nicola Smith. Photo: Photosport
Coach of the fifth-ranked Proteas Jenny van Dyk said the start of the match was an eye-opener for her inexperienced side but she said they showed they had adapted in the second half, which they lost just 36-29.
"If you look at our starting combination, none of them had started and played a full match against New Zealand," van Dyk said.
"They need that experience and that exposure. They don't know what they don't know.
"That first quarter sealed the deal for them from the start. It forced us to disconnect as a team and they pulled away."
Van Dyk believed the Silver Ferns would also have been motivated by the negativity surrounding the coaching controversy leading into the series.
"New Zealand came out all guns blazing. There's been a lot going on and I think it was important for them to show how professional they can be."
The second test is in Napier on Wednesday and the third in Invercargill on Sunday.
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