Constellation Cup: Diamonds legend Cath Cox backs Aussies to rebound in second Test in Auckland

The Diamonds suffered their worst loss to New Zealand in more than a decade on Sunday night but a legend of the sport has backed them to bounce back in coach Stacey Marinkovich’s 50th Test.

Former Diamond Cath Cox is expecting an Aussie rebound in the second Constellation Cup clash in Auckland on Wednesday as Stacey Marinkovich’s side attempts to hand the coach a sparkling milestone memory.

Fox Netball commentator and former national team stalwart Cox said the Diamonds rarely turned in consecutive poor performances and expected them to erase their Wellington walloping with a stellar showing at Spark Arena.

The Diamonds were beaten by 14 goals in the Con Cup opener - the largest margin the Silver Ferns have put on their great rivals since 2010 - as the Aussies stumbled in the campaign opener.

But Cox believes it will take only a few adjustments from the Diamonds to bounce back in Marinkovich’s 50th game as national coach.

“The Diamonds do this, they have moments where they’ll just need a reminder of how to play,” Cox said.

Can the Diamonds get the win back from NZ? Picture: Getty Images

“This happened against England, it happened at the World Cup. I know historically, they (have lost) a couple in a row in New Zealand but I think after that one on Sunday, it’ll be certainly a lot closer.”

While they’re the closest rivals in geographical terms, Australia and New Zealand don’t play often outside of the Constellation Cup.

The last time they met was at the Netball Nations Cup, in London in January, while they have not faced each other in the past two benchmark events - the Commonwealth Games and World Cup.

“When you play New Zealand for the first time in a long time, it’s just reminders about how to play against their zones and things like that, because it can catch you off guard,” Cox said.

“But they would have gone back and done a bit of review on that game and I think they would have picked up a lot very quickly.”

Sophie Dwyer takes her opportunity when injectedinto the match against the Silver Ferns in Wellington. Picture: Getty Images

While the Sophie Garbin-Keira Austin combination served Australia extremely well in the recent series against England, the shooters struggled against the Ferns’ zone and the intensity of circle defenders Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger, who were outstanding.

With Austin under intense pressure, Marinkovich slotted Sophie Dwyer into the match - a move Cox applauded, as well as a performance that led to Dwyer being named the Diamonds’ MVP.

An unabashed Georgie Horjus fan, Cox said it could be time to inject the South Australian playmaker into the side.

“I would love to think that that’s going to happen,” Cox said.

“You also though, look at that defensive unit and some of the height in that circle and think, is it the time to introduce George Horjus?”

At 192cm, Jackson is a full 20cm - or eight inches in the old language - taller than Horjus, who as a swing playmaker, could come on in the midcourt at wing defence, with captain Liz Watson moving to centre.

Cox believes the Diamonds will revert to a combination close to what started the first test, with Garbin and Austin starting, while Dwyer should be confident after her last start.

Georgie Horjus could be injected into the squad to make her international debut in the second Test. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m actually pleased that they put Dwyer on,” Cox said of the Giants goaler, who has been in the Diamonds environment for three years but has had few long stints on court in the gold dress.

“It wasn’t an ideal situation … but that’s what you’ve got to do when you get your opportunity, get out there and do it.

“And it’s probably easier to do that when your team’s not performing because you don’t go on court with an enormous amount of pressure on you already.

“I think that’s what she faced when she went on against England (because) Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin were playing incredibly well.

“Then when you get those moments, it’s like, ‘oh god, I’ve got to play that well as well otherwise, I’m not going to be considered again’.

“She went on and she played well and I was really pumped to see that because I don’t think she had a great (Super Netball) season.

“I kind of thought, is she really only in this team because there’s no one else to pick?

“I know that’s brutal, but it’s probably fairly accurate because a lot of the shooters in our league are now internationals, so it was great to see her get out there and do what she does so well.”

Originally published as Constellation Cup: Diamonds legend Cath Cox backs Aussies to rebound in second Test in Auckland