Netball World Cup 2015: Dates, Live Stream, TV Info, Fixtures, Pools and Preview
The 14th Netball World Cup gets underway in Sydney on Friday as Australia play host to the sport's 16 best teams for 10 days of action.
The hosts and defending champions are the odds-on favourites as they go in search of an 11th title.
Their biggest challengers are likely to be continental rivals New Zealand, while Jamaica and England should also be expected to go deep into the tournament.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Read on for full scheduling, television, live stream and pool information, as well as a preview of all the action.
Dates: Friday, Aug. 7, to Sunday, Aug. 16
TV Info: Live in the UK on Sky Sports
Live Stream: Sky Go
| A | |
| Australia | |
| New Zealand | |
| Barbados | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | |
| B | |
| England | |
| Jamaica | |
| Scotland | |
| Samoa | |
| C | |
| Malawi | |
| South Africa | |
| Singapore | |
| Sri Lanka | |
| D | |
| Fiji | |
| Wales | |
| Uganda | |
| Zambia |
| Date | Time (BST) | Fixture |
| August 7 | 12:50 a.m. | Fiji v Wales |
| August 7 | 1:50 a.m. | Jamaica v Samoa |
| August 7 | 2:50 a.m. | Singapore v Sri Lanka |
| August 7 | 3:50 a.m. | Malawi v South Africa |
| August 7 | 4:50 a.m. | Uganda v Zambia |
| August 7 | 5:50 a.m. | England v Scotland |
| August 7 | 7:50 a.m. | New Zealand v Barbados |
| August 7 | 12:50 p.m. | Australia v Trinidad & Tobago |
| August 8 | 2:20 a.m. | Uganda v Fiji |
| August 8 | 4:20 a.m. | Trinidad & Tobago v New Zealand |
| August 8 | 6:20 a.m. | Australia v Barbados |
| August 8 | 6:30 a.m. | Samoa v Scotland |
| August 8 | 8:20 a.m. | England v Jamaica |
| August 8 | 12:20 p.m. | Sri Lanka v Malawi |
| August 8 | 8:20 p.m. | Singapore v South Africa |
| August 9 | 1:20 a.m. | Wales v Zambia |
| August 9 | 3:20 a.m. | Trinidad & Tobago v Barbados |
| August 9 | 5:20 a.m. | Australia v New Zealand |
| August 9 | 7:20 a.m. | England v Samoa |
| August 9 | 9:20 a.m. | Singapore v Malawi |
| August 10 | 3:20 a.m. | South Africa v Sri Lanka |
| August 10 | 6:20 a.m. | Zambia v Fiji |
| August 10 | 8:20 a.m. | Uganda v Wales |
| August 10 | 10:20 a.m. | Scotland v Jamaica |
Preview
It is no understatement to say that the history of the Netball World Cup is dominated by Australia, and the hosts plan to continue that in 2015.
The Diamonds are the top-ranked side in the world and gold medalists at last year's Commonwealth Games. They are the team to beat, and the two venues at Sydney's Olympic Park—including the Allphones Arena—will be rocking with Aussie support during the competition.
Australia captain Laura Geitz has tasked her team with making a fast start to the competition when they face Trinidad and Tobago in their opening fixture on Friday, per Netball Australia:
"It’s such a short competitive week, it will be here and over and done with before we know it. So we need to make sure we are putting out our A-Grade performances every time. The girls are starting to really feel the vibe and energy floating around and excited to have opening ceremony and into our first match. We won’t be taking Trinidad lightly. They’re a really proud country and they’re going to put out what their best is in that first quarter as well.
"
Other than Australia and New Zealand, Trinidad are the only other winners of the Netball World Cup, the trio having shared the accolade in 1979 tournament.
An Aussie triumph is far from guaranteed at the tournament. Third-ranked England could pose a serious threat to Australia and New Zealand, having lost to both by just a single point at the Commonwealth Games.
Roses wing attack Tamsin Greenway is convinced that England can challenge the top-two ranked sides in the world, per England Netball:
They will need to set the tone in a home nations clash against Scotland in their opener, but England should be confident of making at least the semi-finals.
Since Tracey Neville was appointed as coach in March, England have gone unbeaten, and thus they will start the Sydney tournament in fine form. Their biggest threat in Pool B is Jamaica, the fourth-ranked side in the world and vanquishers of England in the bronze-medal match at the Commonwealth Games when they prevailed by four points.
It is set to be an incredibly exciting tournament, all over in a whirlwind of matches over just 10 days. Sky Sports provided a preview to whet the appetite:
Australia can't afford to be complacent, and their Sunday Pool A clash against New Zealand's Silver Ferns should be a thrilling encounter. A Kiwi victory in that game and they would take some terrific momentum into the latter stages of the tournament.
It all begins on Friday in Sydney as the world's best teams go head-to-head for what should be a fascinating tournament.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
