In New Zealand, sports fans are trying to forget the humiliation of the All Blacks’ quarter-final exit from the Rugby World Cup. The Silver Ferns are inevitably feeling some pressure, at the end of a year when Kiwi sailors, cricketers and rugby players have failed to bring home the bacon.
However, there are a couple of factors that didn’t apply to the All Blacks, the Black Caps or Team New Zealand, which the Ferns can embrace with pride. They are playing at home and the bacon – in case rugby fans haven’t noticed - is already there
Captain Adine Wilson told the Dominion Post, “I know everyone else wants us to win but we want to win 10 times more.
\"The biggest pressure we put on ourselves is us. The outside pressure is never going to be as big as what we put on ourselves - I don\'t think it makes any difference whether the All Blacks won or lost really,
The pressures are physical too. Brilliant young midcourter Laura Langman has a stress fracture in her left foot, but the team has elected to manage the injury rather than stand her aside. Temepara George has confirmed her availability if a replacement for Langman is needed.
The Ferns left yesterday for a five-day camp in Melbourne including matches against the Victorian men\'s side tonight and Friday, and the Melbourne Central women\'s team tomorrow evening