Diamonds say it’s about pride

AUSTRALIAN coach Lisa Alexander has promised the Diamonds will “hit back hard” against New Zealand in tonight’s Constellation Cup decider in Wellington.

Alexander said Sunday’s 11goal defeat in Hamilton was a wake-up call for Australia — its first loss to the Silver Ferns in more than a year.

“Our pride has been hurt by this,” she said.

“There is no other way to say it. They have been given a good foot up the backside.

“I say this every time — this is the toughest series because the world’s best are playing each other across four Tests — but we need to hit back hard now.”

Alexander said she wanted to test new combinations, with the series being one of the last chances to do so before the World Cup in the UK in July.

She has been criticised in some quarters of the media for a rotation policy she said did not exist. “I don’t have one, I don’t know where that comes from,” she said.

“What I am doing is making changes to manage athletes, and you have to remember some times players are putting in great things in training and are being rewarded for that.

“This is about testing new combinations — we have had a different starting seven each game — if we don’t do it now when will we? We have to make sure our entire team of 12 gets an opportunity.”

Australia goes into tonight’s game 2-1 up in the four-Test series, and New Zealand needs to win by 14 goals to claim the Constellation Cup.

New Zealand has not won the Constellation Cup since 2012.