Southby keeps Silver Ferns' feet on ground

Aug 28, 2016 - 5:15 PM Silver Ferns boss Janine Southby won't be letting her troops get ahead of themselves before Wednesday's clash with South Africa in Hamilton.

The Kiwi outfit brushed aside world No.3 England on Saturday night in Auckland, with new-look attacking duo Bailey Mes and Ameliaranne Ekenasio combining to devastating effect.

The pair scored 63 of their side's points and dominated the Roses defence from first minute to last in the 65-39 win.

Earlier, the Proteas produced an improved but ultimately inadequate performance in their 68-43 thumping at the hands of the world champion Diamonds.

However Southby told reporters on Sunday her side would be taking nothing for granted against a spirited Proteas outfit.

The Silver Ferns would be on red alert for the shooting prowess of Lenize Potgieter, who nailed a respectable 30 of her 37 shots on goal against Australia.

"We can't expect to walk out there on Wednesday night and expect the same thing to happen, it's about staying real and focused," Southby said.

"South Africa will have learned a lot from what happened to them, we know they'll come out pretty fired up." Southby said she was pleased by her side's fluidity in their win over the Roses on Saturday but felt further improvement was on the cards.

Basic mistakes and unforced errors still needed to be ironed out of the Silver Ferns' game.

"We'll tidy up that stuff, a little bit of connections in our passing, times when you're not quite in the right place," Southby said.

In team news, veteran defender Anna Harrison remains a doubt for Wednesday's match after suffering a calf strain in the lead up to the England match.

Replacement Jane Watson made her Silver Ferns debut in the second half against England, while shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit also got her first taste of international netball action.

Southby said potential debutants Storm Purvis and Maia Wilson may also earn their first New Zealand cap on Wednesday but made no guarantees.

"We'll read it as we see it," she said.

Source: AAP