Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu says Cathrine Latu's international netball career isn't over despite being overlooked for the Constellation Cup later this month.
Cathrine Latu had been hoping to rejoin the Silver Ferns for the Constellation Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Ameliaranne Wells has been called back into the side to replace Maria Tutaia, who's on extended leave, in the only change to the team that finished runners-up at the World Cup in Sydney, in August.
That means Latu's again been overlooked, after she missed the World Cup, when Taumaunu criticised her volume of shots rather than her accuracy.
Taumaunu said her decision doesn't mean the end for Latu.
"Without her (Wells) in the team we don't have sufficient cover at goal attack in my view, it's not a position that Cathrine has spent a lot of time in, she's done a little bit of time there but not a great deal.
"Ameliaranne has much more experience at goal attack so in the end the determination was around position rather than form, because Cathrine played very well, turned up in good shape and has clearly done some work," Taumaunu said.
Ameliaranne Wells (left) of the Central Pulse netball team. Photo: Photosport
Meanwhile Wells is counting her lucky stars on her recall.
The 24-year-old, who was born and raised in Australia, said she had mixed feelings when she got the news.
"Maybe a little bit of relief and it just reinstated a little bit of confidence in myself that I can do it and I can be back in here and once I got over that initial shock it's just pure excitement now so yea it's really cool," Wells said.
The four-Test series will be the last at the helm for Taumaunu after announcing she would not seek reappointment.
The Constellation Cup series sees the Ferns host the first two matches at Christchurch's Horncastle Arena on October the 20th and at Vector Arena in Auckland two days later, before they cross the Tasman for the final matches in Melbourne on October the 25th and in Perth on October the 30th.
New Zealand: Name (2015 ANZ Championship Team / Zone)
Jodi Brown (Central Pulse / Netball Central)
Kayla Cullen (Northern Mystics / Netball Northern)
Leana de Bruin (WBOP Magic / Netball WBOP)
Shannon Francois (Southern Steel / Netball South)
Katrina Grant (Central Pulse / Netball Central)
Phoenix Karaka (Southern Steel / Netball South)
Casey Kopua (WBOP Magic / Netball WBOP)
Laura Langman (Northern Mystics / Netball Northern)
Bailey Mes (Mainland Tactix / Netball Mainland)
Malia Paseka (WBOP Magic / Netball WBOP)
Grace Rasmussen (WBOP Magic / Netball WBOP)
Ameliaranne Wells (Central Pulse / Netball Central)
