Netball: Star free England no thrill, say Ferns

Laura Langman says the Ferns won't take the English lightly just because they're bringing inexperienced players. Photo / Natalie Slade

The Silver Ferns are disappointed they won't be facing a full-strength England side in next week's two-test series.

Several of England's key stars will be missing from the series, which begins in Auckland on Monday, with interim coach Collette Thompson opting to bring out a young, inexperienced side for their Australasian tour.

After next week's two tests against the Ferns, England will head to Australia where they will play three tests against the Diamonds, before the two transtasman sides do battle in the finale to the Constellation Cup.

While England are considered one of the danger teams in world netball, without Pamela Cookey, their key attacking weapon, and star defenders Geva Mentor and Sonia Mkoloma, they are not expected to challenge the top two sides in the world.

Many see this as a positive for the Ferns - after a heartbreaking world championship campaign, the England series presents a nice opportunity to ease their way back in to international netball before taking on arch-rivals Australia late next month.

But Silver Ferns shooter Irene van Dyk said she would rather face the best England have to offer.

"I don't know what the reasoning is, but when you represent your country you always want to think you are playing against the best," she said.

Newcomer Cathrine Latu, who is expected to make her debut for the Silver Ferns on her home court at Trusts Stadium on Monday, is disappointed she won't be matching up on Mentor and Mkoloma for a very different reason. Having sat out international netball for the past four years, Latu has not had the opportunity to play against the next crop of England defenders, including the highly rated Eboni Beckford-Chambers and Stacey Francis. Latu believes it is a case of better the devil you know.

"I'm more disappointed they're bringing people I've never seen before. I think I'd find more comfort in knowing Geva and Sonia were coming because they're the only ones I know and have played against in the ANZ Championship," said Latu.

Outgoing New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken, who will step down from the top job after the Australian series next month, said that while she would like to have seen England bring out their top line-up, she understands their desire to focus on building depth for the future.

"Yes, we love the challenge of playing the Gevas and Sonias, etc, but we do all appreciate where things are at in terms of the start of a new four-year cycle, and I think it just shows how hard it is with players juggling jobs and things."

Although England are missing some of their biggest names, they still have a strong core of frontline players, including captain and new Mystics import Jade Clarke, midcourter Tamsin Greenway and promising young shooter Jo Harten, who will turn out for the Tactix next season.

Silver Ferns midcourter Laura Langman, who has taken over the captaincy for the series in the absence of injured defender Casey Williams, believes the youngsters in the English team will be out here to prove a point.

"We're not going to take them for granted, that's for sure," said Langman. "They still have a lot of experienced players and the rest will be an unknown quantity, so [it's important] not to underestimate them."