Ferns Set For Tough Assignment

The Silver Ferns will need to bring their A-game to Rotorua’s Energy Events Centre tonight as they take on the world’s third ranked side England in the first of two test matches as part of the New World Netball Series.

Stand-in captain Laura Langman will lead the side in Casey Kopua’s absence due to injury with the focus on winning the Series for the Taini Jamison Trophy and continuing to rebuild ahead of the Netball World Cup in Sydney next year.

National selectors have shown faith in the 12 players which contested the Constellation Cup against Australia earlier this month, making no changes to the line-up for the Series against England.

The visitors are coming off a two-test loss against Australia last week, with only seven goals separating the two sides in the most recent match in Canberra.

The England team boasts a myriad of ANZ Championship players including Kia Magic’s star shooter Jo Harten, Serena Guthrie who has signed for the Northern Mystics in 2015 and Geva Mentor who is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world.

England captain Jade Clarke is also a familiar face with New Zealand audiences after her time playing with the Mystics and Mainland Tactix, while Ama Agbeze plays for the Central Pulse and Eboni-Beckford Chambers is no stranger to elite Netball.

A few tickets are still available for the Rotorua test match and available through Ticketmaster with the game live on SKY Sport from 7.00pm.