After taking a couple of weeks to fully recover from the Rugby World Cup, your faithful editor Noizy now feels strong enough to actually start editing and posting the lads ramblings again. This week: the Netball World Champs, a preview of the potential All Blacks starting XV circa 2011, and the NZ Cricket and League teams battle it out with TVNZ for Dick of the Week.

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As with the Rugby the Dropkicks take a look at the contenders for the Netball World Champs. First up: Pool A

Botswana
­Nickname: None
Colours: Sky Blue, White & Black
Coach: Joseph Makakaba

If you are anything like us your first thought was: “Where’s Botswana again?” Well for a start, Africa, duh. It borders South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Young shooter Tebogo Radipotsane is apparently the one to watch for.

“[Radipotsane] made her mark on the world stage at the 2005 World Youth Cup in Florida, where she finished as the fourth best shooter at the tournament, with 86 percent accuracy.”

Sadly Botswana maybe the netball equivalent of Namibia at the Rugby World Cup. Interesting point to note: they have a male coach.

Malawi
Nickname: The Queens
Colours: Red, green & black
Coach: Griffin Saenda

If you are anything like us your first thought was: “Is Malawi anywhere near Botswana?” No. They’re also much better at netball.

In fact they’ve got a bit of a rivalry with South Africa.

“Malawi’s third appearance at the World Championships is keenly awaited after its 2004 & 2006 COSANA gold medals, and sixth placing at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, beating South Africa in the play-offs at all three tournaments.

Malawi drew a three-match series with South Africa in July, 45-all, 35-56 and 38-34”

I expect that Malawi will the team people will cheer for when their own team isn’t playing.

New Zealand
Nickname: Silver Ferns
Colours: Black & Silver
Coach: Ruth Aitken

Unlike the All Blacks, the Silver Ferns kick ass. They have won the World Champs four times! (1967, 79 jointly, 87 and 2003).

“From 22 July 2003 to 20 July 2006 the Silver Ferns won nine of their eleven matches against arch-rivals Australia”

However they’ve lost recent games, but y’know what? It doesn’t matter! Why? Because New Zealand has the best netball player in the world: Irene van Dyk. And blind faith, lots and lots of blind faith.

More on our girls later.

Wales
­Nickname: None
Colours: Red and White, Black and White
Coach: Denise Ellis

Isn’t funny how at certain World Champs (football, rugby, netball) the home nations split up, but in others (Olympics, league) they band together. Here Wales are all on their own. The Welsh are another team looking to the womenfolk to make amends for the menfolks inability to win.

Unfortunately aren’t as good at netball as they are at rugby. Still they beat Scotland in the build up matches and want to give Malawi and Botswana a run for their money. Likelihood of that: slim.

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Get excited New Zealand! We may have been knocked out of the Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup and 20/20 World Cup, but BY GOD we will get to the final of the Netball World Cup

"Sixteen teams in four Pools will play a total of 48 games at the 2007 New World Netball World Championships at The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, Auckland."

It all starts on Saturday November 10 at 8.10pm (local time) with the New Zealand Silver Ferns taking on the Malawi...um...? (Update: They're called The Queens)

So what are the pools and how will this World Cup work?

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What's with England versus South Africa this year?

And who are the Dropkicks supporting? What are you, nuts? Here at The Dropkick's offices (a shed in Noizy's backyard) we have all caught Ferns Fever! They are the reigning Champs you know.