Jess Thirlby has warned her England gamers that they’re the workforce everybody needs to beat within the Netball Nations Cup, dwell on Sky Sports activities, and so they ‘should work tremendous exhausting’ to safe the trophy.
England kickstart their Nations Cup marketing campaign in opposition to the world No 7 workforce Malawi on Saturday February 1, dwell on Sky Sports activities, whereas the event additionally consists of South Africa and Uganda.
The Vitality Roses impressed final yr, defeating world No 1 Australia for simply the third time in September, however – with either side carefully positioned on the planet rankings – successful the Nations Cup is not going to be a simple feat.
England head coach Thirlby has highlighted the obstacles her workforce will face, together with being with out injured key gamers Helen Housby, Eleanor Cardwell, Nat Metcalf and Lois Pearson.
“We are the team they want to beat in order to get some ranking points and move up themselves, so they’ll be hot on our heels I have no doubt about that,” stated Thirlby, who has referred to as up Emma Thacker from England A to interchange Pearson. “We must work tremendous exhausting to get it over the road.
“For the time being it is so essential we keep, nevertheless cliched, on the method and serving to put together the workforce for 3 very totally different challenges in fast succession.
“We’re searching for consistency and this offers us a very good alternative to consolidate the distinction between being ranked in that prime 4 and under.
“We really want to try and stamp our authority on that and create a big gap between those nations that are underneath us and where we see ourselves needing to head.”
England fought exhausting in Australia, finally struggling a 2-1 collection defeat following a decisive 69-56 loss, with Thirlby taking loads of positives from her workforce’s performances in opposition to the world’s elite workforce.
“We’ve bought with us now a generation of Roses players and it’s invaluable that they can look themselves in the mirror and they know they’ve done that [competed against the world’s best],” Thirlby added.
“It has a ripple effect and we’ve got more players in the programme and in the squad now that have seen the Roses team beat nations above them more frequently, so they’re not coming in with in any hangover of being a third or fourth-placed team repeatedly.
“They’re beginning to perceive it is attainable, it has been carried out, I would like part of that.”
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Highlights from the ultimate Check between New Zealand and Vitality Roses, the place the Roses misplaced however nonetheless received the Check collection 2-1
Who’s taking part in for England within the Vitality Netball Nations Cup?
Cardwell (resulting from return from damage), Metcalf (resulting from being pregnant) and Housby (resulting from membership commitments) have been unavailable for choice. Thacker was elevated from the England A facet on January 24, following an damage to Lois Pearson.
Helen Housby is not going to characteristic for England within the Vitality Netball Nations Cup
England’s squad (appropriate as of January 28): Halimat Adio, Imogen Allison, Amy Carter, Beth Cobden, Zara Everitt, Funmi Fadoju, Berri Neil, Razia Quashie, Ellie Rattu, Paige Reed, Alicia Scholes, Jess Shaw, Liv Tchine, Emma Thacker, Francesca Williams.
Vitality Netball Nations Cup fixtures – dwell on Sky Sports activities
All occasions are GMT
Saturday February 1 – Motorpoint Enviornment, Nottingham
South Africa vs Uganda (3pm)
England vs Malawi (5pm)
Sunday February 2
Malawi vs Uganda (2pm)
England vs South Africa (4pm)
Saturday February 8 – Copper Field Enviornment, London
Malawi vs South Africa (3pm)
England vs Uganda (5pm)
Sunday February 9
Third-place play-off (1.30pm)
Last (4pm)
Who will win the Vitality Netball Nations Cup? Watch dwell this February dwell on Sky Sports activities. Not received Sky? Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
