Netball: Ferns revved and ready: Langman

Laura Langman is excited by the challenge ahead. Photo / Alan Gibson

With 100 days to go, Kiwis say horror year is in past and camp is full of excitementHow the Ferns' main rivals are shaping up

Quietly, behind closed doors, the Silver Ferns have been meeting each month to set about trying to put things right after their worst international season in recent memory last year.

In just over three months we will find out if all the plotting, planning and long sessions on court trying to rebuild individual confidence and team dynamics during the regional cluster sessions have been enough.

Today marks 100 days until the Netball World Cup kicks off in Sydney, where the Ferns will look to break a 12-year title drought. Besting the might of Australian netball is a tricky proposition in any year, but after slipping off the pace of the Diamonds in the past 12-18 months, the New Zealand side have a whole heap of ground to try to make up before the August tournament.

They have lost their last nine outings - one short of the Ferns' longest losing streak to Australia - against Lisa Alexander's side including an 18-goal loss in last year's Commonwealth Games final.

But last year's dreadful season hasn't eroded New Zealand vice-captain Laura Langman's excitement about the challenge ahead.

"When you start a four-year cycle it feels so far away and now to be 100 days out is quite unbelievable, so there's a lot of nervous excitement that's going around at the moment," the veteran midcourter said.

Langman, who stood in as captain late last year after the team's inspirational leader, Casey Kopua, suffered a serious knee injury, said there was no lingering hangover from their disastrous 2014 season, with the group committed to improving.

"You can't really afford hangovers. If we are going to be better we have to move on from that and when we get into our cluster sessions the attitude is really great and one of excitement and willingness to be better, so I think that is a great starting platform after coming off what was a very difficult year."

The Silver Ferns World Cup team won't be selected until after the ANZ Championship season, with national trials the week after the grand final, meaning the New Zealand squad are under selection pressure every time they take the court. After a slow start to the transtasman league season, New Zealand coach Waimarama Taumaunu is hoping the Kiwi sides will begin to hit their straps as the playoffs approach.

"I'm quite pleased with the conference system, it gives our younger teams time to sort themselves out so they'll be competitive at the end of the season so I think that will be beneficial to them," she said.

As well as keeping a close eye on the New Zealand and Australian players in the transtasman league, Taumaunu is also monitoring their other rivals with the recent change to the England coaching staff giving her plenty to think about.

"You come to learn the style of a coach and you can start to think about who they might look to put on court and when. And while I know Tracey [Neville] well, she will come into the job with new ideas and that adds a degree of uncertainty about what the England team will look like."

Australia

The Diamonds struck a setback a few weeks back with the loss of key midcourter Madison Robinson to a serious knee injury, but such is the depth in Australian netball there is no shortage of players lining up to take her spot. With the Australian teams dominating the transtasman league, confidence in Australian netball remains at an all-time high.

England

Questions have been raised over the stability of the English team after the shock axing of coach Anna Mayes. Mayes has been replaced by former international shooter Tracey Neville, who will take the reins for the first time in next month's test series against Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaica

Along with the on-court challenges, Jamaican netball is also facing a financial battle this year. The organisation has launched a fundraiser to get the team to the World Cup, asking local businesses and individuals to donate money.