CAPE TOWN – New Zealand coach Noeline Taurua believes the pressure is more from other teams than her side ahead of the 2023 Netball World Cup.
Silver Ferns arrived in South Africa as favourites to defend the title after ending their 16-year wait in 2019 to win the Netball World Cup in Liverpool by beating Australia 52-51 in the final.
The side who are familiar with the Cape Town atmosphere played the 2023 Netball Quad Series that was won by Australia.
Taurua says being in Cape Town feels at home but the approach of her side will be the key.
Final prep mode in full force ahead of Cape Town ? pic.twitter.com/2WVYDzR1P5
— Silver Ferns (@SilverFernsNZ) July 15, 2023
“Our title is there, we don’t own the cup – the cup has left our shores to South Africa, and everyone has an opportunity to win the cup. So, our mindset is to come here and win every game,” said Taurua.
“We don’t believe that we are more special than other teams, we believe that we have to win every game. So, we are not thinking of coming to defend but to win every game.
“I think in our minds if we are saying we are defending it puts pressure on us, and I know it’s sort of playing around words but it’s not like every game it’s given we are going to win it.
She says the approach will be different and with less pressure.
“We are not putting the pressure on ourselves, in saying we are defending but we come here to enjoy ourselves definitely, but we have prepared to win every game,” she said.
“To some degree it makes it feel lighter for us.”
Silver Ferns have been thrown to Pool D alongside Uganda, Trinidad & Tobago, and Singapore.
The former Southern Steel and Sunshine Coast Lightning coach is no stranger to winning, she also coached the team to win the 2021 Constellation Cup over their arch-rivals Australia, ending a nine-year drought.
She has also led her side to the bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
She believes arriving in Cape Town has helped them to settle well and adjust comfortably to the time zone.
“We are fortunate because we arrived in South Africa maybe four to five days ago, we were staying in Bantry Bay – so we had the opportunity to acclimatize so to speak,” she added.
“As we came here to Southern Sun it feels like we were just here yesterday, even though we were here in January.
“So we are very familiar with the venue, we feel comfortable, and things are rolling and there’s no issue around the time zone.”
New Zealand will open the campaign against Trinidad & Tobago on Friday.
