Netball: Samoa ready to face England

By JULIE ASH

Rita Fatialofa admits it will be nice to catch up with her old New Zealand team-mates Lynn Gunson and Waimarama Taumaunu when Samoa line up against England in Apia next week.

With Gunson as their head coach and Taumaunu her assistant, England are on their way to New Zealand for a three-test series against the Silver Ferns.

But before they meet the Ferns the English will square off against Fatialofa's Samoa in a one-off test on Wednesday.

"I played with Wai in the 1987 world championships when New Zealand won and with Lynn in 1983 in Singapore," she said. "It will be good to catch up with them but we are just so grateful for the opportunity to play an international match before we head to the world champs."

The match is part of Samoa's 41st independence celebrations and will be the first real international ever held on the island.

"We are just so excited," Fatialofa said. "The Samoan netball public have have not seen a match of this calibre. This is a great moment in the history of Samoan netball."

The Samoan side is captained by former Silver Fern Linda Vagana and includes New Zealand-based players Rachel Rasmussen, Frances Solia (Canterbury), Nicolette Ropati, Malu Faasavalu (North Harbour) and Ana Senio (Diamonds).

"We think we have got some well-balanced and experienced players from New Zealand that will add strength to our Samoan team," Fatialofa said. "Because Samoa is not able to compete internationally annually we think to obtain some experience from New Zealand will give us a better chance at the world cup."

England have just come off a three-test series against Jamaica where they won the first test 51-47 but lost the next two, 49-39 and 52-45.

Earlier in the year they played the Silver Ferns but lost all three tests (52-36, 61-40 and 64-35).

"England are known for their tough play. They have got a New Zealand connection with Lynn and Wai so they have a bit of Kiwi influence and their game has really expanded," Fatialofa said.

With the world championships in Jamaica just six weeks away, Fatialofa said the match should help both sides.

"It will be a great opportunity for them to play in this heat considering we are going to be playing in it in Jamaica," she said.

"We just want to keep the game as close as possible.

"Without any international fixtures, we want to make full use of this amazing opportunity,"

* The Silver Ferns go into camp in Christchurch tomorrow.

They square off against England on June 9, 11 and 13 in Christchurch, Wellington and in Auckland.

Samoan team: Linda Vagana, Nicolette Ropati, Malu Faasavalu (Force), Rachel Rasmussen, Francis Solia (Flames), Anna Senio (Auckland Diamonds), Monalisa Tofilau, Faleulu Tuli, Grete Liuaana, Sose Tavae, Caroline Ah Chong and Ida Vaii (Samoa).