Double World Cup winner Jill McIntosh is back to take charge of Northern Ireland in Friday’s international friendly against her native Australia in Bath.
The match will be a warm-up for the world champions ahead of their Test series against England and useful experience against the highest-class opposition for the girls in green.
Last time these teams met was in a 2011 World Cup group game in Singapore when Northern Ireland held the holders – who went on to retain their trophy – to a respectable 75-33 scoreline.
It will be exceptionally tough this week against a fully professional side with a huge height advantage but the players are relishing the prospect of what should be a very valuable exercise.
The big target in 2013 is to secure qualification for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow by remaining in at least the top 11 in the world rankings, though the lack of fixtures compared to rivals Wales is of concern to the players.
The team made fresh history under McIntosh by achieving runners-up place for the first time ever, in 32 attempts, at last May’s European Championships and subsequently pushed South Africa hard in the final match of a three Test series in Cape Town.
McIntosh’s compatriot Trish Goddard was in charge when the team, playing as Northern Panthers, put up a good show at the inaugural World Premier Club Challenge in Glasgow a few weeks before Christmas.
There are two changes to the squad of 12 on duty for the Panthers at that tournament, including Cathy McLean of Belfast Ladies replacing Graduates’ Louise McKeown, whose international career appears to be over.
But the more interesting inclusion is Nardia Masters, a defender of Jamaican extraction who has been playing for Laganside in the NI Premier League.
NORTHERN IRELAND (squad): G Gibney (capt), H Irvine, O McCullough, F Campbell, L McCaffrey, C Wilson (all Graduates), C O’Hanlon, M Drayne, J Bowman, (all Larkfield), N Lennon, C McLean (both Belfast Ladies), N Masters (Laganside).
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