Silver Ferns

The Silver Ferns made a dream start in Liverpool, and England found themselves down 5-nil.

Jane Watson and Casey Kopua poured on the pressure, both coming up with flashy intercepts.

The retiring Kopua, determined to make another World Cup final, pulled off classic blocks and picked off balls outside the circle.

Helen Housby helped get England back into the game, going to post, while GS Jo Harten tried to recover from early nerves. Housby also picked up a couple of key intercepts.

The Silver Ferns led 12-9 after the first quarter.

Despite the slump of form since the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Silver Ferns are showing promising signs entering the final rounds with only one loss to their name against Australia where they fell by a single goal 49 to 50.

The Silver Ferns haven't missed a World Cup final since 1995 and its clear they want to keep it that way.

That year in Birmingham former Silver Fern shooter Irene Van Dyk not only led the South African Proteas to a 59-57 win, booking a finals spot against Australia, but they broke New Zealand hearts in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

Folau, the wife of underfire Australian rugby star Israel Folau, who faces having his contract torn up after a series of controversial social media posts targeting the gay community, looks set to end her illustrious career after July's Netball World Cup.

In an interview with former Australian netballer Cath Cox on Channel Nine, the 32-year-old Folau, who is playing in Australia's Super Netball for the Adelaide Thunderbirds, said retirement was on the horizon.

"Let's just say I'm very close to the end," she said. 

Shooter Folau has quit the Northern Mystics to live full-time in Australia.

The 31-year-old has been residing in Sydney since marrying Wallabies fullback Israel Folau last year, but travelled back to Auckland regularly to play for the Mystics.

Folau is part of the Silver Ferns squad to play the Australian Diamonds, South Africa's Proteas and England's Roses in next month's Netball Quad Series, starting on 15 September in Auckland.

It is unclear whether she'll continue her netball career in Australia.

The unassuming Jamaicans did well to find early momentum against the Silver Ferns in the first half with their seasoned attack end - including the might of former Southern Steel shooter Jhanielle Fowler-Reid.

A majority of the New Zealand side had not played Jamaica before last night, having last played them in 2016, and at the end of the first quarter it showed with the score deadlocked at 13 all.

The second stanza saw no player changes at both ends and the Sunshine Girls took advantage by pulling out to a six goal lead.

New Zealand outclassed South Africa from start to finish in the match, shooter Bailey Mes made 28 of her 30 attempts while Tutaia slotted 27 from 34.

Tutaia proved the difference in the match; she only missed one shot in the opening 15 minutes of the match, almost matching South Africa's attempts in the first quarter alone.

The Silver Ferns built on their lead in the second quarter, continuing to impress on attack where centre Shannon Francois reveled in the space provided with an influential performance.

RNZ reports a sloppy first quarter by the home side saw the Proteas take a surprise 16-14 lead and forced Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby make two changes to her starting lineup.

New Zealand turned in a much improved second quarter to finally take the lead and go to the halftime break 32-27 in front.

South Africa tried to cling to the Silver Ferns who stepped up the pace in the third quarter to extend their lead to 46-38.

The fourth quarter was dominated by New Zealand who went on to run away with the match by 19 goals, 65-46.