Tasman rivals set for golden contest
AS Australia prepares for its last international of the year, captain Caitlin Bassett is forecasting it will be the Diamonds and Silver Ferns fighting over the gold at the Commonwealth Games.
England and South Africa might he on the improve but the Australian sharpshooter still believes it will be Australia and New Zealand in the main game at next years Commonwealth Games.
Australia and New Zealand have this month been involved in an engrossing battle for the Constellation Cup which concludes today at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.
Both sides have continued to experiment with their lines during the annual series but have also made it clear how serious they have taken the contests.
These matches have given Bassett the intel to predict Australia’s old nemesis will remain their chief foes on the Gold Coast.
“I still think it will be us and them,’’ Bassett said.
“England have improved immensely and so have South Africa. But I think Australia team to compete on the Gold Coast.
Coach Lisa Alexander says she wants to be pretty close to knowing the make-up of the Commonwealth Games side by the end of the Constellation Cup.
However, Alexander admitted that there was some wriggle room for players to force their way in to the squad during the Quad Series in January.
“I think what you will see is we will get the data from this series and that will have a big effect on who is chosen,” she said.