Ferns wary of Aussie backlash
Few netball sides are more dangerous than a wounded Australian Diamonds outfit.
Australia don’t lose often and their sloppy play during the recent Quad Series, including a 57-47 defeat to the Silver Ferns in the series decider in Invercargill, will have stung.
Stringing back-to-back poor performances is almost unheard of from the Diamonds, who will be desperate for redemption in the fourtest Constellation Cup series, starting in Auckland next Thursday.
Australian Julie Fitzgerald, who coached the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic from 2014-16 and steered the Sydney-based Giants to the final in the inaugural Super Netball competition this year, expected a fired up Diamonds side, who wouldn’t make the same amount of errors.
‘‘Even the All Blacks have games they’d rather forget. That’s probably one for Australia.
‘‘I know they’re gutted by that result and they’ll be putting everything they possibly can into ensuring that doesn’t happen again.’’
Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander, who has lost just 10 times against the Silver Ferns from 31 games since taking over in 2011, has wielded the selection axe, dropping experienced midcourter Madi Robinson, as well as goal attack Gretel Tippett.
Fitzgerald said there needed to be changes after a disappointing Quad Series and tipped Robinson to regain her spot before April’s Commonwealth Games.
She backed Melbourne Vixen Liz Watson to start at wing attack in the Constellation Cup and described her as the ‘‘form centre court player for the Diamonds at the moment’’.
Silver Ferns goal keep Kelly Jury was instrumental in the Quad Series victory over Australia, restricting star shooter and captain Caitlin Bassett to 22/24, which forced her to the bench in the third quarter.
Fitzgerald knows Jury well, handing her a contract with the Magic in 2014 when she was still a Year 13 student at New Plymouth Girls’ High.
She was delighted by her development over the past year, watching her in Botswana in July when she starred as the New Zealand under-21 side captured the World Youth title, beating Australia in the final.
Fitzgerald said there was no question training and playing alongside former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua at the Magic had helped fast-track Jury’s progress.
Beating Australia in a one-off game is nice, but we’ll have a much clearer idea how good the Silver Ferns really are after the Constellation Cup. Fitzgerald said New Zealand were well placed six months out of the Commonwealth Games, despite suffering two recent losses to England.