England Netball sat down to talk with Ama Agbeze ahead of the Roses setting off to the Quad Series.
Here are her thoughts on the team’s New Zealand tour…
So Ama, we’ve got our three-match International Series against New Zealand coming up. What can we expect from the Silver Ferns?
I think the Silver Ferns are trying to blood a new squad so a lot of their old players have retired. They’ll be trying to get experience amongst their squad members. They always hit the court hard and fast – irrespective of who’s on court – so it will just be a challenge for us to actually prove that we are a force to be reckoned with and get some wins on the board.
The Taini Jamison Trophy comes straight off the back of the Quad Series. How important is it that you play this high intensity competition so quickly after each other?
I think it’s actually really great that we have the Quad Series before we go to the New Zealand Series because as an England squad, I think we sort of start quite slowly and then build up. Going into the New Zealand Series piggybacking off the Quad Series, hopefully from the first game in Porirua, we’ll be ready to hit the court hard.
As captain of the touring squad, what can we expect from this team on court and what are they like to be captain of off the court?
As captain, I think it’s an exciting team. I think there are lots of people who have lots of experience and can bring different things. There are different personalities, which I guess there are in every group, but I think we’re culturally getting stronger and more supportive of each other. On court, I think you see that as a bit of individual flair but actually we’re all on the same page, all working together and all backing each other up. Then off court, a bit of personality, a lot of jokes and just trying to make sure that everyone’s included and we’re a strong team.
The Roses will be in action on the following dates – all times are BST.
Taini Jamison Trophy
Thursday 7th September: New Zealand Silver Ferns v England Roses, Porirua, 8:45am
Sunday 10th September: New Zealand Silver Ferns v England Roses, Napier, 3am
Wednesday 13th September: New Zealand Silver Ferns v England Roses, Hamilton, 8:30am
You can follow the England Roses on tour via our official twitter account @England_Netball and watch every single match LIVE exclusively on Sky Sports.
