Netball: England believe they have plan to repel NZ

Waimarama Taumaunu.

The Silver Ferns have gone into lockdown mode in Sydney as they focus on a big weekend of finals action at the Netball World Cup.

After last night's final round qualification match against Uganda, the team said goodbye to friends and family to ensure no outside distractions as they turn their attention to today's semifinal clash against England.

Last night's match against the She Cranes - a surprise qualifier for the top eight - was still in progress at the time this edition went to print. But New Zealand had already assured themselves a semifinal showdown with England, who toppled South Africa 62-46 in their final pool play outing yesterday.

Coach Waimarama Taumaunu said the team decided collectively they would prefer to insulate themselves from outside distractions as best they could ahead of the finals.

"We'll close down after [the Uganda] game. So the end of pool play was the team decision as to when we're going to close down," said Taumaunu.

"Our senior leadership group has been through this a number of times so that message has been pretty clearly communicated. The players have been great and there's a real sense of focus about them."

England midcourter Jade Clarke said while they would encounter a very different New Zealand side today to what they had faced in the past, she believes her side have the game plan to counter the Ferns' fast-moving shooting circle. "We think we've got the game plan to get ball off them because they are very good at keeping possession," she said.

"We've got to put ourselves in position to get the ball, we can't concede because they will just front-cut us and work their way in really patiently.

"You've got players like Laura Langman who are good at holding possession and will just go and go, so we've really got to get stuck in and go after it."

After a disappointing 10-goal loss to Australia in the second round, England's confidence for today has been boosted by their win over SA.

In today's other semifinal, Australia will meet Jamaica after the Sunshine Girls just scraped through to the top four with a thrilling 63-62 win over Malawi. Having been on the verge of creating history with their first World Cup finals appearance, the Queens were visibly distraught by the result. Shooter Mwai Kumwenda, the Tactix star shooter, lay on the ground and sobbed, while others held their heads in their hands.