Diamonds eyeing Constellation Cup clean sweep as Silver Ferns battle to keep series alive

The Diamonds have put themselves in position to snare the Constellation Cup with just one more win — but they face a major stumbling block in the form of a proud Kiwi side.

She’s pleased with her team’s improvement, proud of her star shooter’s ability to fight back from injury and encouraged by the emergence of a new generation of players.

But Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua knows that won’t be enough when her side meets Australia’s Diamonds again this week with the Constellation Cup on the line.

“We’ve got to win,” Taurua said when asked of her expectations for Thursday night’s clash in Invercargill when the series moves to New Zealand after the opening two games in Australia.

After the Diamonds won the opening two games of the series, by a combined 19 goals, the Ferns need to win both matches and erase the deficit to win back the Constellation Cup.

It’s a massive ask but one Taurua refuses to shy away from.

After the Ferns finished off the podium in Cape Town, missing the medals for the first time in World Cup history and then went down in the opening match of an eventually successful Taini Jamison series to an inexperienced England side, others might have made excuses.

But not Taurua.

“That hasn’t changed no matter what,” she said of winning being the goal.

Noeline Taurua says the Silver Ferns must bounce back against Australia. Picture: Getty Images

“And I think that’s the most exciting thing about the trans-Tasman battle between us and Australia, it’s always there to win.

“Incremental improvements would be good. We’re in the game, but then we’re not in the game, so our consistency around that (needs to improve).

“But we’ve got to take it on. And to be at home, we’re looking forward to that.”

The return of goal shooter Grace Nweke from a knee injury that ruled her out of the World Cup in the preliminary rounds in Cape Town provided a massive boost to the Kiwis, who drew both quarters in which she was involved, in Brisbane.

Asked whether her side could win the series 4-0 after sweeping the Australian leg, Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich was not bullish — but she said continuing to win was certainly the goal.

“I think it’s tough. It’s tough to get any win to be honest,” Marinkovich said.

“We go out there to win there’s no doubt, but I think we’ve got to re ally stick to that process and not look too far ahead.”

Australia will be out to continue its winning run when the Constellation Cup switches to New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

While World Cup finalists England were criticised for selecting what many rated a second-strong team to face New Zealand last month — before the Roses responded by winning the opening match of the series — Marinkovich has paid the Ferns the ultimate respect in the opening two Constellation Cup clashes, selecting her strongest possible starting side and making few changes during matches.

But the Diamonds’ depth will be needed in games in Invercargill and Auckland over the next week if they are to maintain their record.

“I think we’ll use our variety. I’m not sure exactly what that’s going to look like but we’ve got depth and it’s not just giving people a chance,” Marinkovich said.

“I’m really comfortable that these girls are going to come on and run the game hard.

“We’ve played two incredibly tough matches. It’s really slow stop-start, so it’s really taxing on the body.

“I think that injection of some fresh legs is going to be needed.

“It’s not the game plan that changes but the people that can actually come out with the strengths that they bring to it.”

The Diamonds flew to New Zealand on Monday morning, heading to Invercargill via Queenstown ahead of Thursday’s Test match.

Originally published as Diamonds eyeing Constellation Cup clean sweep as Silver Ferns battle to keep series alive