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Fuhrmann thriving

Fuhrmann thriving

09/01/2010 02:11:06 AM

Susan Fuhrmann has been the talk of Australia's first Test win over New Zealand after her impressive final-quarter performance in Adelaide.

The 1.96m defender got the better of Irene van Dyk who was reduced to just two goals from four attempts in the final 15 minutes as the Silver Ferns went down 43-48 in the series opener.

But the 24-year-old, nicknamed 'Fuhrmannator' is not expecting everything to go her way again in Wellington on Thursday night.

"Irene is an extremely experienced player. She has been out there for so many years and has so many tricks she can pull out of her hat," the West Australian said.

"I'm expecting to get out there and have a really tough one if I do get the opportunity.

"Laura Geitz had three really good quarters before I got out there. She really wore her down for me. So no I'm not expecting to get out there and have an easy one."

It was not the first time Fuhrmann has frustrated the Silver Ferns' shooting ace. She also had success against van Dyk in the series last year as well.

"I just absolutely love playing against her," Fuhrmann enthused. "There are so many great shooters in the world and I absolutely love getting out on court and challenging myself against them. I thrive on the challenge."

Fuhrmann aside, the other big talking point in the build-up to the second test has been the mental toughness of each side.

Former Australian great Liz Ellis has suggested the Diamonds hold a mental edge over their trans-Tasman rivals after claiming another tight victory.

However, Fuhrmann and her captain Sharelle McMahon were quick to downplay such thoughts.

"I'd say being one-up in a Test match series is great," said Fuhrmann." I don't know whether you would call it a mental edge or not because the Kiwis are going to come back harder than ever because they did go down in that first one."

McMahon added that the group, now cut to the dozen that will travel to the Commonwealth Games, had simply been working towards being at their peak for Delhi.

"I think we put out a solid performance in Adelaide so for us it's about building on that towards the Commonwealth Games.

"It's just a really pleasing thing to go out in the first test and do really well and hold up to the pressure that the New Zealand team always put on you," the shooter said.

"When you play against New Zealand the physical pressure is always there and the mental pressure is always there.

"I guess it's just another experience for us as a young group together to build on and work towards to Commonwealth Games."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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