Constellation Cup 2022: Diamonds captain Liz Watson says Australia can quickly turn around form
The Diamonds shook off a shock pool round loss to claim gold in Birmingham and now captain Liz Watson believes a repeat performance can be achieved in New Zealand.
Diamonds captain Liz Watson is adamant her team can rebound from a sloppy performance in the Constellation Cup opener and win the remaining three games to seal the series.
Australia slumped to a 20-9 deficit at quarter-time on the back of an 11-0 run from the home side in a key moment that sealed the series opener against New Zealand’s Silver Ferns despite the Diamonds’ best efforts to come back.
But Watson, whose side went down to Jamaica in pool play at the Commonwealth Games before bouncing back to beat them just days later to win gold, backed her side’s ability to learn from their mistakes against their greatest rivals.
Watson said the Diamonds could win the remaining three games to seal the series and take back the Constellation Cup lost to the Silver Ferns last year.
SCROLL DOWN TO RECAP OUR COVERAGE OF GAME ONE OF THE CONSTELLATION CUP
“Absolutely. That’s the plan,” Watson said when asked if the Aussies could win the next three games on the trot after a shaky showing in their 56-48 loss in Auckland on Wednesday.
“We certainly want to learn — this group is very good at bouncing back and learning from that, so fingers crossed,” she said.
Winning gold at the Commonwealth Games and regaining one of the pinnacle events in world netball had bolstered the Diamonds’ confidence.
But that was achieved without meeting the Ferns in Birmingham and the Commonwealth bronze medallists are desperate to make their mark on the Diamonds in only the teams’ first head-to-head series in more than 18 months.
“Obviously, we feel very strong and confident in how we play but we didn’t play New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games, we haven’t played them in a long time,” Watson said.
“I think (the series opener) was that element of unknown and not knowing what we were getting into.
“You can’t rest on that gold medal. As much as it was an amazing experience, New Zealand are definitely fighting to get back up on top so we’ll have to see how we go from here.”
Watson was among the Diamonds’ best on Wednesday night with 34 circle feeds and 13 goal assists.
But like the rest of the team, she struggled to cope with the Ferns’ zone defence and the pressure of opponent Kate Heffernan.
“She was a great battle. I don’t think I’ve played against her to be honest,” Watson said.
“When you lose you look at all the things that you can do better.
“Just in that attack end we had to get a bit more connection and cohesiveness and when things didn’t work, it did feel like you’re working in isolation, you were just trying to outmuscle them and play that fighting game.
“But in hindsight, we’d have to work with each other to get through their through their style of defence, which is something that we’ll have to look at.”
The Diamonds have worked hard through camp on defusing the zone, including asking the national men’s side to employ the tactics.
But Watson said little could compare to facing the Ferns.
“As much as you try and replicate that in training, it’s a different level when you do come up against the Ferns.
“It was always going to be tough and strong and that rivalry is still there even though we haven't’t played in such a long time.
“It’s disappointing but there’s three to go, so hopefully we can learn from this.”
Coach Stacey Marinkovich said the Diamonds paid for their poor start but like Watson, she backed the players to replicate their Commonwealth Games bounce back and learn quickly.
“There were certainly elements of our game that wasn’t our typical behaviours out on court and we can certainly rectify that,” Marinkovich said.
“I think that’s more of a mindset and switching over and getting those behaviours right.
“We haven’t played Zealand in a while so it was adapting to the to the offline defence and just that style of play.
“I thought we were slow to start but then we started to get some confidence and get some momentum and we had some good quarters out there.
“It was hit and miss in some areas but still a lot to take.
“Our group is very good at learning and that’s what we’re going to take forward.”
Diamonds fail first test as loss leaves huge questions
The influence of Gretel Bueta on the Diamonds’ performance has been underlined after Australia lost their Constellation Cup opener 56-48 to the Silver Ferns in Auckland.
The game was lost in a horror seven-minute period in the opening term during which the Ferns piled on 11 unanswered goals to take control of the match.
The deficit came from turnovers and poor ball security rather than the absence of Bueta herself but she has been such a focal point for the team in their successful Quad Series and Commonwealth Games campaigns that a fightback in her absence was always going to be tough.
Instead, the combination of diminutive wing attack Peta Toeava and towering shooter Grace Nweke proved pivotal for the Ferns, who sprinted to a 20-9 lead by quarter-time and were never headed.
The pair was outstanding but it was defender Phoenix Karaka that won player of the match honours after she caused chaos in the Aussie shooting circle.
The Diamonds started with Sunshine Coast Lightning combination Cara Koenen and Steph Wood in the shooting circle, the only goalers other than Bueta to have taken the court in Australia’s gold medal-winning effort in Birmingham just two months ago.
But they were unable to dominate, with coach Stacey Marinkovich eventually using four shooters as the Diamonds attempted to fight back.
Captain Liz Watson highlighted the fact that the issues were all over the court though, the Diamonds battling to get clean ball into the circle and unable to shut down the quick ball to Nweke early in the game.
“Just everything really wasn’t going our way our structures, our set-up, our discipline, just everything,” Watson said.
“The Ferns put on that pressure right from the start and we spoke about having such a good start and that will set up the game.
“So very disappointing and it shows that you need a good start against a team like the Ferns.”
The Diamonds outscored their opponents in the second and third quarters, with the injection of Jamie-Lee Price into the midcourt and Sunday Aryang on the defensive end and had clawed their way back to within four goals just minutes from the final break before a crucial turnover allowed the Ferns to pushed the buffer back out to six at the final break.
Amy Parmenter made her Diamonds debut at wing defence and while she had her hands full with Toeava on fire, she was left in place and made inroads throughout the match.
Price, who also played at wing defence, was instead injected at centre and was outstanding, taking steps to repair the “heartbreak” she felt after missing out on the Commonwealth Games team.
But the Diamonds will need to be much better in the second match in Tauranga on Sunday.
“(There were) little patches of good netball and then it went back to not so good, so I think it was a game of momentum and when we had that we didn’t carry on and get the scoreboard pressure,” Watson said.
“So it was attack and defence that weren’t working for us tonight, so disappointing.”
Watson reiterated the Diamonds would not be able to replace Bueta but she saw some positive signs, especially with the injection of holding shooter Sophie Garbin in the final quarter.
“I think when Soph came on she was such a great target for us down that shooting end and we’re trying all the different goalers out there, they’re getting their opportunities, they’re performing when they need to but we’re going to have to figure out a different style of play,” Watson said.
“We can’t play exactly how we played with Gretel.”
FULL-TIME NZ 56-48 DIAMONDS
Didn’t see this result coming but terrific from New Zealand and that will fill them with confidence for Game II.
For Australia, a lot to learn and a lot to fix.
Q4 NZ 54-44 DIAMONDS
Sophie Garbin needs to be starting for Australia. Sure, the scoreline isn’t what we all expected but there has been a noticeable improvement in the circle movement since she came on.
Q4 NZ 48-39 DIAMONDS
Karaka off and Johnson on for NZ because of the blood rule. Frustrations coming through from Bruce, she’s penalised again for heavy contact, not much going the Diamonds’ way at the moment.
As an aside Parmenter has come into this game more and more, the midcourt has been a challenge but she’s channelling her inner Ash Braz right now. Seven to play
Q4 NZ 47-38 DIAMONDS
Garbin on to GS and Wood into GA a double shooting switch and thats a rarity. The ball no getting to them though and that’s because the centre third is totally closed off there are no options for the midcourters. New Zealand gets the turnover and the difference is nine, really sloppy from Australia.
Q4 NZ 43-36 DIAMONDS
Stacey essentially saying get moving in her team chat, don't hold space standing still. Keep moving, keep finding options. Back to basics kind of netball. It’s what will calm things down.
Well the final term starts with the Aussies losing possession so the nerves remain.
Eight goals the gap
Q3 NZ 42-36 DIAMONDS
Is there a way back into this for the Diamonds? If there is they need the cleanest quarter of netball they will have played ina very long time. Too much possession being lost in faffing around the circle. Why aren’t they shooting from distance? It’s ridiculous, Austin looks perplexed, it’s very simple, just shoot. No urgency.
And New Zealand finish the third with the upper hand after a really bad period.
Q3 NZ 38-34 DIAMONDS
The gap is down to three with four to play and the Diamonds are back in this. A very subdued 10 minutes from the silver ferns, distincly average from them.
Q3 NZ 35-30 DIAMONDS
Tell you what is letting the Diamonds down is the feeds into Koenen. She is being smothered out of the game so why she’s not taking her D out to the side and opening up the circle I don’t know.
Deficit reduced to five goals with seven minutes to play, scoreline reflecting the balance in this third term but it’s still scrappy from Australia.
Q3 NZ 34-27 DIAMONDS
A rarely seen error or two from the Silver Ferns - in fact that’s unfair it was more just exceptional defence from the Diamonds and it continues into the midcourt.
Much more pressure from the ladies in green and gold this quarter
HALF-TIME
Q2 NZ 31-23 DIAMONDS
“Not looking good at all,” Green doesn’t miss in her assessment and she’s not wrong. Diamonds too hesitant and looking a little shell-shocked - well a lot shell shocked if you get me. Koenan struggling for a millimetre in the circle.
Wood back at GS worth a go, she’s off for Austin at the moment.
A better quarter from the Diamonds but they’re going to need a very special third.
Q2 NZ 30-17 DIAMONDS
Jamie Lee Price on for Maloney and I’m surprised it’s taken this long for a change to come in. Only four turnovers against the Ferns which gives you some insight into how clinical they’re being this evening.
Q2 NZ 24-14 DIAMONDS
This is a struggle for the Diamonds, a real struggle the pressure from NZ is formidable. Parmenter struggling for options, no one getting free for her, some basics really not falling into place. Sure they’re missing Bueta but also the likes of Brazill and Watson.
Q1 NZ 20- 9 DIAMONDS
Australia has barely had their hands on the ball in the final period of the quarter. Definitely missing Bueta at this stage, communications are off and there’s isn’t a central voice of reason.
“That is ridiculous,” Kim Greene said on Kayo. Almost speechless by the Kiwi onslaught. Honestly this is a little embarrassing.
40% possession for Australia is generous to say the least.
QT : 20-9 down.
— Origin Australian Diamonds (@AussieDiamonds) October 12, 2022
Hosts have come out humming - work to do.
Stats Leaders 👇
Goals : Koenen 6
Assists : Wood 6
Feeds : Watson 11
Intercepts : Klau 1#ShineBrightpic.twitter.com/onBMmqnedD
Q1 GAME ON: NZ 13-8 DIAMONDS
A real swing in the momentum here and trouble for the Diamonds, getting mauled by their opponents. Timing on the passes not working for Australia just yet and NZ mastering the turnover. 58% possession for the hosts after 10 minutes
Q1 GAME ON: NZ 3-4 DIAMONDS
A game of patience from the Diamonds early on and that’s encouraging, NZ have a tendency to make opponents panic and rush. Wood from range shooting well but so too are the Kiwis.
Ekenasio v Bruce - some match up coming here and Parmenter on debut! Plenty to be excited about for this clash.
Starting Seven.
— Origin Australian Diamonds (@AussieDiamonds) October 12, 2022
Bring. It. On.#ShineBrightpic.twitter.com/coOIcAbry0
AUSTRALIAN DIAMONDS
Sunday Aryang
Kiera Austin
Ruby Bakewell-Doran
Courtney Bruce
Sophie Dwyer
Sarah Klau
Sophie Garbin
Paige Hadley
Cara Koenen
Kate Moloney
Amy Parmenter
Jamie-Lee Price
Maddy Proud
Donnell Wallam
Liz Watson (c)
Jo Weston
Steph Wood
NEW ZEALAND SILVER FERNS
Ameliaranne Ekenasio
Karin Burger
Gina Crampton
Sulu Fitzpatrick
Maddy Gordon
Kate Heffernan
Kayla Johnson
Kelly Jury
Phoenix Karaka
Grace Nweke
Mila Reuelu-Buchanan
Shannon Saunders
Te Paea Selbu-Rickit
Whitney Souness
Elle Temu
Jane Watson
Maia Wilson
You can watch the Constellation Cup on Kayo and Fox Sports.
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