The former Central Pulse coach answered a late call from Netball New Zealand to step into the role for the Taini Jamison series after the shock standing down of head coach Noeline Taurua.
McCausland-Durie answered the call 24 hours before the Silver Ferns went into camp ahead of the South Africa series last month and stepped up alongside Southern Steel assistant Liana Leota.
The duo have a long history after McCausland-Durie taught Leota as a year 10 student at Palmerston North Girls’ High School and later coached her at New Zealand under-21 level.
"I have a long relationship with her, so it’s a real privilege to always see people continue and ... to see players go beyond their game," McCausland-Durie said.
"We know she’s had a lot of her time in England and has learned a lot of her craft through that. We’re very aligned in how we think.
"She’s a wonderful person and she’s worked really hard to put herself in a position as a young coach, so it’s lovely to be beside her."
They led the Silver Ferns to a clean sweep of the three-test series against South Africa and McCausland-Durie said she was "really proud" of what the players had achieved.
"When you think about Taini Jamison and the legacy that she left in netball, and the kind of woman she was, that’s what you want to do: stand on the shoulders of those who have been before. That’s something that this group really understand deeply.
"There have been lots of tough times and it could have been easy to spend time in the past.
"But they worked really hard to walk forward and have courage to move forward in times of challenge and just be resilient, and be present and make the most of what was in front of them.
"I think, like no other time, everybody has certainly felt how proud they are and how privileged they are to be in the places that they are because, you know, you never know."
McCausland-Durie, who reopened Tipene St Stephen’s School in South Auckland this year, has indicated her role with the Silver Ferns is just a one-off for the series.
She called it a privilege and said she was impressed by the attitude of the squad during an unprecedented period.
"I’ve just been really impressed with the openness of the group, the learning that’s taken place, the leadership that sits within this group and their ability to own the task and the will to always reflect the mana and the legacy of the Silver Ferns.
"So it’s been a pleasure."
