The Vitality Netball World Cup 2019 – Australia vs Northern Ireland Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Australia vs Northern Ireland taking place? Friday 12th July, 2019 – 11:00 (UK)
Where is Australia vs Northern Ireland taking place? M&S Banks Arena, Liverpool
What television channel is Australia vs Northern Ireland on? This match will be televised live on Sky Sports Arena
Where can I stream Australia vs Northern Ireland? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for Australia vs Northern Ireland? Tickets for this session can still be purchased via Stubhub!
THE TEAM NEWS
AUSTRALIA
- Samsung Australian Diamonds head coach Lisa Alexander has named Caitlin Bassett as captain and Liz Watson as vice-captain as the holders come into this tournament keen to retain their trophy once again.
- Australia won two of their three games to claim their third straight Quad Series trophy in January this year and confidence is high coming into this as they have won the previous three Netball World Cups and they are favourites to lift the trophy for 12th time in their history.
- Captain Caitlin Bassett suffered a concussion in training after being on the receiving end of an elbow to the face which saw her miss the friendly match 94-62 win over Manchester Thunder on Sunday but they are hoping she will be fit enough for this opening match.
NORTHERN IRELAND
- Northern Ireland are currently ranked eighth in the world and they will compete in their first World Cup since 2011 and they will be hoping to make their mark in the tournament and show they are moving in the right direction despite a difficult opening match against Australia.
- Former England under-21 player Shaunagh Craig is the exciting new face in Australian coach Dan Ryan's Northern Ireland squad and she started at goal shooter on Sunday in their final warm-up game against Malawi which they lost 53-37.
- Veteran Caroline O'Hanlon, 34, who won the Superleague title with Manchester Thunder earlier in May, will captain Northern Ireland but they have been dealt a blow by the news that Lisa Bowman will miss the tournament through injury so Noleen Armstrong has been called up to the squad in her place..
THE PREDICTION
Australia will look to win their fourth straight World Cup and they will take on Northern Ireland in their first match in Liverpool. Australia beat Northern Ireland 94-26 when they last met in 2018 and they are comfortably favourites to win this match. Northern Ireland have an Australian head coach who will be all too aware of the threat his native country will pose here, and while his team will give their all to compete, expect the holder to get off to the perfect start in the competition and win this match comfortably.
