Netball: Silver Ferns expecting hard physical battle from Roses

Katrina Grant wants a 60- minute effort. Photo / Photosport

The Silver Ferns are preparing for another tough game against England when the Northern quad series starts tomorrow morning (NZ time).

Silver Ferns captain Katrina Grant said her team were ready for the Roses after a series of gripping encounters last year.

"We have had some very tough battles against them last year in New Zealand and they've got a full strength side again," she told the Herald.

"They've been working just as hard as what we have been and wanting this game as much as we do," she said.

"We're expecting a very physical game from them and first game up will be interesting, as neither team has played much netball at the moment."

The Silver Ferns won the Southern Hemisphere leg of the Quad Series in September, beating world champions Australia and South Africa but losing to third-ranked England.

England then threatened to take a series off New Zealand for the first time in six decades, forcing the three-match contest to a decider, which the Ferns won stylishly.

The Ferns, who landed in London last weekend, were quickly back in the gym and on court in preparation of this weekend's match.

A gym session and some time on court at Copper Box Arena were on the schedule for the Silver Ferns after they arrived in London ahead of the Netball #QuadSeries. pic.twitter.com/7JBOVqpyY4

— Silver Ferns (@SilverFernsNZ) January 15, 2018

Time on court = 😃 😃 😃 Training run against England A today gave the Silver Ferns a chance to stretch their legs ahead of the first game of the #QuadSeries this weekend.#SilverFans pic.twitter.com/8TmziFIAH4

— Silver Ferns (@SilverFernsNZ) January 17, 2018

Grant said everyone had been very competitive during training this week, as only 12 of the 14 players on tour would be selected.

"Everyone does look good ... because we've got 14 here it's going to be that much harder, but everyone looks like they've done a lot of work over summer which is what we needed to do, and we're raring to go."

This weekend will be the first game for the Ferns since the Constellation Cup last October against Australia, were they turned on their "worst performance of the year" - comprehensively thumped by the Diamonds, who claimed a Constellation Cup victory for the fifth year in a row.

Grant said the losses were devastating, but the team has focused on strengthening specific weaknesses over the summer.

The Silver Ferns will come up against the England Roses on Sunday (NZT). Photo / Getty

"I think we learned that we need to be a little bit clearer with everyone and be on the same page ... being able to identify on the court what's working and what's not working, and have a B plan when the opposition are getting on top of you," she said.

"Also getting used to playing 60 minutes of netball, because we played some really good quarters of netball, but couldn't put it together."

Grant said their core focus would be on executing their game plan and fulfilling its potential.

"Getting those connections right and getting them clicking pretty fast is what we need, and knowing that we need to all be very competitive and play good netball."

The Ferns will play the Roses tomorrow at 7am (NZT) in London before they fly to South Africa, to play the Proteas on January 26.