The Silver Ferns have clarified why interim assistant coach Liana Leota has been left back in New Zealand for their Northern Tour.

The new Central Pulse assistant is attending to a family matter, so has missed the 2-0 sweep of Scotland in Glasgow.

However, Silver Ferns interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said Leota could rejoin the Ferns for their three-match series against England, starting on Sunday.

“Liana’s had some whānau stuff going on, so she made quite a late call to commit to that. We’ve still got her ticket still open in the hope that she may still join us.”

Netball New Zealand high performance specialist Waimarama Taumaunu has replaced Tracey Fear in camp, who was brought in by High Performance Sport New Zealand during the stand-down of Dame Noeline Taurua.

Without Leota, McCausland-Durie said Taumaunu is supporting her by taking care of the defensive end.

Yvette McCausland-Durie: "We understand the expectation and the challenge ahead." Photo / Photosport

“We’ve got people who have coached at an international level and she’s coached a number of these players through different campaigns. She’s supporting me at the moment until we get clarity about where Liana’s at.

“This group have been really amazing at being able to pivot and accept that this is the new normal and we get on with it, and so, yeah, grateful.”

McCausland-Durie experimented with combinations across all areas of the court in the Scotland series. It culminated with a junior line-up producing a 20-7 fourth-quarter wipe of the Thistles in test two.

The Silver Ferns will resort to a more conventional line-up to face heavyweights England, who won last year’s Taini Jamison series in Aotearoa.

McCausland-Durie said the team are fully aware the Roses clinched their last encounter.

“We understand the expectation and the challenge ahead, but I do think for us, it’s really just that finesse, reading the options, making sure that our movement is really clear and sharp and that we’re decisive in our movement.

“That will set up a lot more clarity for people who have got the ball in hand to make accurate decisions.”

McCausland-Durie said the experimentation against Scotland has given them more options.

“People know their roles, they know the two positions that they’ve got strength in, and they’ve run different combinations.

“So I think all of those connections continue to add value to what impact we can have and what change we can bring to the court.”

Wing attack Maddy Gordon and goal shoot Grace Nweke proved a lethal combination in the second Scotland test. Despite playing only two quarters, Gordon recorded 31 feeds and Nweke 34 goals.

McCausland-Durie acknowledged it will be different against England.

“They’ve got some defenders who are a little bit taller and a little bit more movement.

“So we’ve got to continue to be respectful about where that space is and how that looks, and also care for Grace in terms of the placement.

“It’s not perfect, but it certainly has some real potential and it’s an asset that we want to continue to keep growing in terms of a connection.”

Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.