Constellation Cup: Silver Ferns top the rankings after series win over Diamonds

After an eye opening series loss for the Diamonds at the hands of the Silver Ferns, EMMA GREENWOOD shares the Constellation Cup top 20 rankings, with the Ferns rising to the top.

How quickly things change.

Just weeks ago the Diamonds dominated the top 20 rankings following their 2-1 series win against England.

But in just over a month, the Diamonds lost their mojo in a 3-1 Constellation Cup loss to the Silver Ferns in which the Aussies looked disconnected, disjointed and devoid of ideas when things didn’t go their way.

It’s difficult to make an argument that a single Diamond outplayed their opponent across the series.

This is backed up not just by stats and the series result but the fact that Stacey Marinkovich used every member of her 15-woman squad across the first three games, while Dame Noeline Taurua ran out only 10 players across the opening three tests, with those three bench players used sparingly with the starting seven acing their assignments.

It took the Diamonds until the final Test to rediscover their mojo, although even that could not mitigate for the opening three heavy losses.

Originally published as Constellation Cup: Silver Ferns top the rankings after series win over Diamonds