WELLINGTON - Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu isn't getting too carried away by New Zealand's elevation to No.1 in the world netball rankings.
World champions Australia have dipped down to second after a disappointing three-match series loss to England late last month.
The depleted Diamonds, missing some key players including captain Natalie von Bertouch, were beaten 58-53, 51-49 and 58-51 by England, who were missing frontline players Geva Mentor, Sonia Mkoloma and Jade Clarke.
But Taumaunu says although the New Zealanders have targeted regaining the top ranking this year, they're not investing too much importance in the latest standings.
"One of our goals is to be ranked No.1, but through our own results, rather than the losses of others," she said.
Commonwealth Games gold medallists New Zealand have played 44 matches over the past four years, and take over the No.1 spot with a rating of 182. Australia are second on 176 from 55 games while England lie third with 156, also from 55 games.
Past results are weighted, with a lower weighting given to earlier results.
"I'm not entirely sure how we managed to play so many fewer Tests — it's a reasonably significant number," Taumaunu said.
She says travelling to England from a Southern Hemisphere summer to play an in-form England team in the northern winter is always challenging, and New Zealand have struggled in previous years.
This summer, Taumaunu opted to keep the Silver Ferns at home, structuring a 10-day training camp around replicating a multi-match event such as the Commonwealth Games or world championships.
"The younger players haven't played that back-to-back netball our pinnacle events require, where you play day after day," she said.
"We've got an increasing group of netballers for whom one game a week is what they're used to. It was a tough 10 days, but there were a lot of learnings."