Netball’s fiercest rivalry returns this week, with Australia determined to win back the Constellation Cup from New Zealand.
The four-Test series begins on Wednesday, with two matches to be played across the ditch before the squad returns home for massive matches in Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
Former Australian Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett, who’s been coached by current Silver Ferns mentor Dame Noeline Taurua and played recently in the New Zealand competition, shares her view on just how the series will go.
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It’s never just another netball Test when the Aussies take on New Zealand – there’s just something special about playing against the girls in black dresses/our Kiwi friends.
The Diamonds are heading across to ditch this week to try and win back the Constellation Cup from our fiercest rival, the Silver Ferns.
It’s just the second time in netball history that the Ferns have claimed netball bragging rights, with the Aussies winning nine out of the 11 series since the competition officially began in 2010.
With more than pride on the line in the four-Test series, I’m looking forward to seeing the girls take their game to another level against a side that will be looking to test the Diamonds for any weakness.
I’m predicting a 3-1 victory to Australia – coming off huge campaign in Birmingham the Diamonds are a dominant force but we won’t get it all our own way.
Playing the same team back-to-back four times while flying to different locations for each game is a challenge in itself.
You almost create a bond with the other team – doing battle one night on court then sitting next to each other on the plane the next morning as you head to the next city to play.
Each game is completely different and exciting – you might beat them in one game, and then you’ve got to play them three or four days later; what are they going to put out this game, what have they learnt and what will they change?
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While you play the same team, coaches tinker with line ups and combinations and that’s what makes the Constellation Cup such a great series for the players and fans.
With the first two games in New Zealand before the series heads to Australia, Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich is going to want to get early wins to keep her winning streak going after the gold medal success at the Commonwealth Games in July.
The girls no doubt will have confidence off the back of that Comm Games’ gold … but they haven’t played against New Zealand recently so coming up against them will be interesting.
Playing them in New Zealand is also always a challenge with the Kiwi crowd so passionate. But I’m excited to see how former Lightning teammate Cara Koenen goes in the absence of Australia’s go-to girl Gretel Bueta, who has withdrawn from the series after announcing her second pregnancy.
I was really impressed with Cara at the Commonwealth Games – she went from strength to strength and when we needed her in that final, she stood up and delivered.
She is such a fantastic athlete – I was always so jealous of her at Lightning; she’s tall but she has the ability to move, she has great vertical elevation and a beautiful baseline drive. And defensively she’s a pest.
She’s definitely going to give the Kiwi defenders something to think about.
The Aussies need to be wary of the influence of coach Dame Noeline Taurua, who since taking over for New Zealand has really pushed the standards of her squad.
She’s very rigid with fitness testing and I think that surprised some players at the start – the good thing about Noels is she knows what she wants and she knows the style of game she wants to play, and they need to be at a level of fitness to be playing that game.
If they are not making a certain level on the yo-yo test, then they can’t be in the squad. Noels wants her players fit enough for her game style, but also mentally resilient to push themselves to get there.
As a coach she gives her players confidence to go out and embrace their individual game style and has taken a lot of learnings from coaching in Australia.
New Zealand are known for playing the zone in defence – but now we are seeing them so much fitter and mixing it up with tight one-on-one defence; it’s a challenge if you’re an Australian attacker.
The addition of Ameliaranne Ekenasio back as skipper, after she missed the Ferns’ Commonwealth Games campaign, will bolster the New Zealand attacking end.
Meels is a great leader for that team. She’s so calm and has a beautiful long shot on her. I’m really interested to see her out there, and that level of calmness and authority especially in a line up that’s not yet proven.
She’s so handy with the ball outside the circle and almost plays that feeding role. Having that ball kept safe out in front is really important especially with a Courtney Bruce in defence who wants to fly at every ball.
Kelly Jury has developed her running game playing out at goal defence in ANZP and her combination with Sulu Fitzpatrick back at goal keeper will be strong.
But while Australia may be taking in a less experienced squad than what turned out for the Comm Games in Birmingham, Marinkovich has kept most of her spine intact with the likes of Bruce, Liz Watson and Kiera Austin.
There’s enough experience in this squad, plus opportunities for players like Amy Parmenter, Maddy Proud and Jamie-Lee Price to show what they are capable of heading into a World Cup year.
