Diamonds vs Silver Ferns: Ash Ervin recalled for Constellation Cup decider
Desperate to avoid losing the Constellation Cup to Grace Nweke and New Zealand, the Diamonds have made a key change as they prepare for the series decider.
The Diamonds have shown they have an eye on the future as well as Constellation Cup success after bringing defender Ash Ervin into the squad for Wednesday night’s Constellation Cup decider in Christchurch.
Ervin, who made her Test debut against South Africa earlier this month, comes into the 12 in place of fellow Tilly Garrett, giving the Diamonds a mix of height and experience, across the defensive line.
Able to start with the tried and tested combination of Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang — starters in all three games so far this series — the Diamonds will also be able to call on a pair coach Stacey Marinkovich would be hoping can nullify star Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke.
The 193cm Nweke was back to her best in Hamilton, finishing with 44 goals at 96 per cent accuracy, even when NSW Swifts teammate Sarah Klau — who trains against her daily in the Super Netball environment — was injected in the mid stages of the match.
The addition of Ervin gives Marinkovich the option of matching height with height, with Ervin a 192cm ‘keeper who has had Super Netball success on her Kiwi rival.
Meanwhile, Diamonds goaler Sophie Garbin believes the Aussies are in a strong position to win the series despite the Ferns lifting their level from the opening two Tests.
Garbin was one of Australia’s best players in Sydney and Melbourne but said she was “not up to scratch” in Hamilton, and actually took comfort from the video review, realising there were changes she could make in Christchurch.
“Watching the footage back, I feel like there was so many ways that my game shifted from the first game,” she said.
“I felt like my work before the ball coming down was not up to scratch ... I was just floating a bit and not really impacting the way that I had in the first two games.
“It’s kind of nice to watch the footage and realise it’s something that I can choose to do to make the improvements, rather than, ‘Oh no, they’ve stepped up another notch, and we haven’t been able to match it’.”
Garbin made her Diamonds debut in Australia’s last win in New Zealand, in Christchurch more than four years ago and returns an entirely different player.
“I feel like so much has changed since then,” Garbin said.
“I’ve been to two different clubs and have a lot more games under my belt. I feel just a lot more a part of the team, and feel like I’m contributing a lot more on the court, but also off the court as well.
“My game just keeps growing, and ... even coming into this series, I feel like I’ve already grown in the past three games.”
Garbin’s debut came in Marinkovich’s first series as Diamonds coach, one in which she also blooded shooters Kiera Austin and Cara Koenen, the shooting trio going on to be pivotal figures in Australia’s wins at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (Austin and Koenen) and 2023 World Cup (Garbin, Austin and Koenen).
With that same big-picture lens on this series, Garbin believes Wednesday’s clash - which will include two series-deciding extra periods if the Ferns win in regular time for a 2-2 result - is an invaluable test ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“We’re not going to get a better scenario to set us up for major tournaments, like a Comm Games next year. This is like a final, so I think it’s really exciting, and we’ve had good success in finals in the last couple of years,” Garbin said.
“When I think of Australia-New Zealand, this is what I think about, those tight games. No matter where each team is placed in world rankings, or how they’ve gone previously, or what’s going on, on or off the court, as soon as you get on in past those white lines, it’s game on.”
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Originally published as Diamonds vs Silver Ferns: Ash Ervin recalled for Constellation Cup decider
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