Few New Zealand netballers despise losing as much as Silver Ferns skipper Laura Langman.
The Ferns play the New Zealand men’s side in a historic clash next Thursday at Auckland’s Pulman Arena as part of their preparations for July’s Netball World Cup.
You can bet your bottom dollar Langman and the Ferns’ World Cup 12 will be doing all they can to topple the men in a game they will be desperate to win.
The Silver Ferns often match up against the men’s national side in training games prior to pinnacle events or series, but the spotlight will shine brightly on this fixture.
Rather than being a closed doors contest, where no-one outside the teams knows the score, this game will be televised live. Kiwi netball fans will be tuning in to see how Noeline Taurua’s side is tracking two weeks from the World Cup, while the game’s novelty factor will draw in people who will be interested to see what unfolds.
With the leading World Cup contenders unwilling to travel this close to the tournament or reveal their hand, Taurua had to get creative for pre-World Cup opposition.
The Ferns take on an All Stars side, containing the best Kiwi talent, who missed the World Cup squad. They also play the men and Fiji over a three-day span – which will mirror the pool stages of the tournament, where they must back up each day.
Facing the men in primetime is a fresh challenge for the Ferns and brings with it a degree of expectation.
“I think the reason we play is we love pressure,” Langman told Stuff.
“We do know what they are like behind closed doors, but given the occasion to play on live TV, I’m pretty sure you can guarantee that’s been ramped up tenfold.”
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