Contributors: Jenny Sinclair, Jaimie Keay, Kariba McGinn, Nicole Mudgway + Graeme Laughton-Mutu
1. Where to for the Australian defensive end?
It’s no surprise that when the Silver Ferns worked the ball to circle edge, feeds into Grace Nweke were almost unstoppable, while turnovers from distanced passes were largely of their own making. As a result, the Diamonds’ goal keeper, goal defence and wing defence contributed just four gains (test 3) and one gain (test 4) between them in the New Zealand leg of the series.
For the Diamonds to be more successful against their trans-Tasman rivals, they need to win more ball. Whether that’s via extra defensive pressure throughout court, midcourt stops, or positional changes, keep an eye on tactics when the teams meet in January.
And with Jo Weston, Courtney Bruce and Sarah Klau all closing in on 30, it will be fascinating to see which of the next generation challenge for their defensive bibs across the new four year cycle.
2. Ferns starting defence becomes clearer
For many, there were still questions around the Ferns defence, especially who deserved the starting goal keeper bib. But in match three Kelly Jury silenced any doubters, finishing as MVP with 5 gains, 2 intercepts and 5 deflections and backing up her performance in the following game with a remarkable seven gains. Match four saw Karin Burger celebrate her 50th cap with an MVP after a full 60 minutes at goal defence, firmly establishing herself as a starting seven player. However, she was the most penalised player on court and will need to adjust.
Burger remarked after the match that when you have the opportunity to wear the bib you have to use it. Kate Heffernan also seems to have made the wing defence bib firmly hers, playing full games in the New Zealand leg.
Kelly Jury continued her strong form into Test 4. Image – Graeme Laughton-Mutu
3. The Trans-Tasman rivalry remains fierce
New Zealand showed that despite their recent 4th placing at the World Cup – their worst ever finish – they are still more than capable of beating the world’s best. With yet another 2-2 series finish, the Ferns will no doubt be extremely happy with their growth throughout the series. After losing the Quad Series silverware to Australia in January, the Ferns will be keen to get their hands on it in January 2024.
4. The eighth player
ILT Stadium Southland (renamed Robyn Broughton Stadium for test three in her honour) – has a reputation for being one of the loudest stadiums in Aotearoa. Southland netball fans are renowned for bringing their high energy and noise levels and In the third match, both exceeded expectations. The packed stadium helped to spur on the Silver Ferns to their first victory in the 2023 Constellation Cup. It also continued a run of dominance for the Ferns in the South, with the Diamonds not having a win down there since 2016.
In the final match, a full Spark Arena encouraged the Ferns who took the lead for the first time with just over eight minutes to go in the match. With every goal and gain from then, the crowd was deafening, willing the Ferns to finish in front. When asked in a post match interview about how the Diamonds combat the noise and atmosphere, Captain Liz Watson said laughing “we don’t, clearly”.
New Zealand Silver Ferns celebrates in front of an excited home crowd. Image: Nicole Mudgway
5. Quick turnaround for Australia
Following the Constellation Cup, Australia now head to Cairns and Hobart to play three tests against South Africa, with just a 48 hour break between the two series . The last time the teams met was at the 2023 Quad Series, where Australia won by 17 goals. Jo Weston, Kate Moloney and Kiera Austin have not been named in the squad to take on the Proteas, with Amy Parmenter, Donnell Wallam and hopeful debutant Matilda Garrett stepping up. With a number of the South African players expected to retire before the next World Cup, we can expect a mix of experienced and new players taking the court.
Meanwhile, New Zealand have finished their international season, and are taking a well earned break from netball.
6. Diamonds struggle to get wins in New Zealand.
Despite the Australian Diamonds continuing to dominate international netball (current Netball World Cup champs, Commonwealth Games champs, Quad Series champs and Constellation Cup winners in 2022 and 2023) they face a persistent challenge of securing victories against the Ferns on New Zealand soil. In the 2022 Constellation Cup, both matches played in New Zealand were wins for the Silver Ferns, and in 2021 the Silver Ferns took the Constellation Cup where all matches were played in New Zealand.
Karin Burger celebrated her 50th test match with an MVP performance in Test 4. Image – Graeme Laughton-Mutu
7. Grace is back and the Ferns need her
As we learned in the Australian leg of the Constellation Cup, Grace Nweke makes a difference to the Silver Ferns, but in the New Zealand leg, we learnt she is essential to success. In test four, Ferns fans were treated to Nweke playing the full 60 minutes where she shot 43/45 (96%). Nweke seems to be adding new elements to her game, presenting more front options and coming out of the circle when needed with confidence. We will always be left wondering what could have transpired if Nweke wasn’t injured at the World Cup.
8. Is it time for a 5 game series?
After an exciting four-match series in the Netball Constellation Cup, many fans are suggesting that it’s time to extend the competition to five matches – especially as both 2022 and 2023 ended in a 2-2 series result. Deciding the winner based on points difference is underwhelming. A five-match series would not only make the tournament more exciting but also give each team more chances to demonstrate their skills, provide experience for younger players or debutants and try out new strategies.
With the amazing growth in international netball, it is no longer guaranteed that Australia and New Zealand will face each other in pinnacle events as seen in the 2022 Commonwealth Games or the 2023 Netball World Cup, but with such a long standing rivalry, fans want to see these two dominant forces battle it out. When asked about a possible fifth match, Noeline Taurua said it was something they had been pushing for, but something had always gotten in the way. Watch this space!
Australia had few answers to Nweke’s strong aerial game. Image: Nicole Mudgway
9. Ferns wing attack position still up for grabs
When Gina Crampton made the decision to take an extended break from netball, it raised questions about who would step into the role of starting wing attack for the Silver Ferns. In the first two games of the Constellation Cup, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan assumed the position, playing the full 60 minutes in each match. However, Whitney Souness took the court in the third and fourth matches where she played for 30 and 35 minutes, respectively. Souness brought a burst of speed off the transverse line and a familiar combination with Maddy Gordon. Many will also be thinking of fan-favourite Peta Toeava, who was a standout in the games she played during the 2022 Constellation Cup but missed out on a World Cup spot.
10. Australian shooting depth
With Steph Wood retired and Gretel Tippett unavailable, coach Stacey Marinkovich finds herself in the position of having to bed in a new look shooting combinations in the Diamonds’ most inexperienced section of the court. Both Cara Koenen and Sophie Garbin delivered solid performances at goal shooter, with Garbin averaging 94% accuracy.
While Kiera Austin was strong at goal attack in the first two tests, she looked reluctant to go to the post in the New Zealand leg. A low release shot combined with the long arms of Kelly Jury over it, clearly had her spooked at times. Koenen and Sophie Dwyer both had brief minutes in the position, but it became increasingly problematic for Australia as the series went on.
For the Proteas series, exciting talent Donnell Wallam will come in for Austin, leaving Dwyer as the only true goal attack in the team. Look for Dwyer to get plenty of minutes, and Koenen or Garbin pushed forwards to relieve her.
Kiera Austin saving a pass headed out of court. Image – Graeme Laughton-Mutu
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
STACEY MARINKOVICH
Thoughts on performance
“It was a hard fought game all over the court, and I think we are certainly learning some incredible lessons, playing over in New Zealand. We had opportunities to push the score out and those moments came and we let them slide and you can’t afford to do that obviously against the Silver Ferns because they surge and they keep coming and we just lost our rhythm towards the end.
“Some really good things that I’m pleased with and the transfer of what we are doing in training. There’s moments where we’ve got to be able to connect out on court and yes stop that momentum shift.”
Does the series need a fifth game after this has been the third time in the last 5 years that it has been two wins a piece
“You know anytime you get to play against the Silver Ferns in this rivalry is an absolute privilege. So bring on as many games as we can play. I think that’s the beauty of this sport and I think you’ve got two countries that have really set the foundation.
“Obviously we’ve got our home support and we’ve been able to have that dominance. But yeah, we’re going to have to switch over at some stage and who’s going to figure each other out first.”
Ferns v Diamonds – is it still the biggest rivalry in netball?
“There’s definitely an intensity around it. We’re just so different with the way that we play and I think that’s what makes it so challenging in so many things because in a lot of the situations you’re playing other countries that have got a little bit more similarities to us in some parts and New Zealand is obviously very different.”
“So yes I do think it is. I just think there’s so much history and passion towards it, and you’ve got two countries, like the crowds are just so netball, just respectful of the game. So I think that’s what makes it so special when you are in each other’s space.”
Sum up the series having split it 2-2
“I think we’ve taken some great lessons. I’ve put combinations out there that are still in their infancy. We didn’t have a long lead into this tournament, and that’s not an excuse but it’s actually understanding what we were able to focus on in a period of time and what we could put out on court.
“Obviously we want to play and win in New Zealand, so that’s another challenge. So there’s all these things that you can keep going, “We need to get better at, we can get better at, but we’ve also got to take a breath and go, okay, we’ve taken the Constellation Cup home.”
COURTNEY BRUCE
Calming the team down from her end of the court
“I think I was just trying to remind everyone that it’s just noise, it’s a perceptive pressure out there. It’s really hard sometimes to get that message down from GK, but just getting our GD and WD to talk to our attackers that it’s just noise and remind them that we train harder than any game that we will ever play at times, so we know what to do. It’s just trying to reassure them.”
