Coach says Diamonds must take hard line

DIAMONDS coach Lisa Alexander will demand a harder edge in tomorrow’s final quad series Test against New Zealand, as her team aims to assert its authority over the rebuilding Silver Ferns.

After wins over South Africa and England, Australia can sew up the three- Test series with victory over New Zealand at Melbourne Arena.

The Diamonds scored a thumping 21- goal win in their previous outing against their old foes, in the semi- final at this year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

It was their sixth straight win over the Silver Ferns.

The Kiwis have entered a new era under the guidance of new coach Noeline Taurua, and Alexander still considers them a threat, saying her team would need to deliver a tougher performance than the effort they produced against a physical England.

“We’re not taking this lightly at all; the Kiwis they are full strength for this team and this series,’’ Alexander said. “We know we need to improve from the other night ( against England) as well … we need to make sure we take on the body.

“Whether we are going to use our screens or whether we are going to use that space, we need to make sure that we take the ball strongly.

“Particularly when we have got the New Zealand style of flying through for the intercepts, we have got to make sure we come in strongly onto the ball.’’

Alexander said dealing with the return of veteran and new Silver Ferns captain Laura Langman, who has returned after a two- year hiatus from the national side, would be a key focus for the Diamonds.