Netball: Under-21s prepare for England attack

New Zealand under-21 coach Te Aroha Keenan says her side heads into the final of the World Youth Cup in Fort Lauderdale today wary of England's strength on attack and through the midcourt.

New Zealand edged Australia 52-51 yesterday to win a place in the final against a fast improving England side, who got the better of Jamaica 52-48 in the other semifinal.

Keenan said England were very steady through court, and had accurate shooters and a solid midcourt.

They have also got towering defender Geva Mentor, who was in the England side that played the Silver Ferns this year.

"They have got a very sound game plan as a team," Keenan said.

"For us it will be about looking after possession, containing their shooting end and their midcourt.

"I think we can match them so it is going to be a fantastic final."

New Zealand have played England once this year, winning 46-45. A far cry from a two-match series last year when New Zealand hammered them 55-37 and 65-34.

With both sides enduring close and bruising semifinals, the final will be a test of not only the fittest but the strongest mentally.

"That is what we have come here for," Keenan said.

"We have prepared for it.

"They know they have to step up and put it out there day-in and day-out."

New Zealand last won the title in 1992. In the 2000 tournament they finished third behind Australia and Jamaica.

Against Australia yesterday, the New Zealanders led in every quarter 14-10, 26-24, 38-37.

Defender Casey Williams came through with a timely interception in the final minute.

"Australia threw everything at them but to last the distance against Australia is fantastic for these young guns," Keenan said.

In what seems to have become tradition in netball tournaments, the lights went out in the stadium in the third quarter, the result of an electrical storm, which caused a 15-minute break.

"In 1992, the lights went out in Fiji in the World Youth Cup and in 2003, in Jamaica, the lights went out in the World Championships ... so we practised that and what we would do and how we would focus.

"They just went straight into that strategy, they coped with it really well, and came back on refocused."

Keenan made three changes in the second quarter, introducing Wendy Telfer at wing defence and moving Laura Langman into centre and Liana Barrett-Chase to wing attack.

Williams, Rachel Rasmussen and Langman were rated as standouts among the New Zealand team.

Today's final starts at 11.15am New Zealand time.