“It’s brutal” is how Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich sums up the nature of the battle with fierce rivals the Silver Ferns.
The highly anticipated Constellation Cup gets underway on Sunday between the trans-Tasman foes, with plenty of intrigue surrounding the four-match series.
The Silver Ferns are coming off their gold medal win at the recent Commonwealth Games, while the Australians, ranked number one in the world, had to settle for a shock third placing.
“One team gets comfortable in the momentum and get those couple of wins and the other one then attacks it in a different way. So I think for us this is exactly what we need coming off the back of the Commonwealth Games,” Marinkovich said.
The teams did not meet at the Glasgow Games, and the annual series clearly means a lot to both countries, she said.
“It’s such a historical battle and to be able to come out and really test ourselves and we know we’ve got two distinct styles of game and we’re ready to adapt and shift with that.”
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua thought the Diamonds might be feeling a bit of pressure coming into the series, but Marinkovich doesn’t buy into that.
“No, I think every time you step out there, if you win there’s an expectation of performance and when you’re at the top, you’ve got to keep backing that up.
“And then obviously when you’ve lost, it’s about: how do you bounce back, so pressure is what you create and how it’s perceived.”
Australian Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich with her shooters.
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Marinkovich admits they got “hit pretty hard” with the Commonwealth Games result.
“It’s understanding what those gaps are and what it is that we’re trying to achieve.
“We’ve always had an expectation of the standard and we want to play so there is no difference in feeling around that. It’ll be more the noise outside of the two teams, I think it’s what everyone focuses on when they come into the environment that’ll count.”
Both coaches will have one eye on next year’s World Cup, which might see some tinkering with starting line-ups.
“What we want to do is make sure that we make the most of these opportunities against New Zealand and they are pressured games, and I guess what we’ve talked about is turning that into experience, so getting players out on court is a key part of that.”
Australia’s recent track record in Aotearoa has been well documented – having lost their last 10 tests on New Zealand soil, while the Silver Ferns record in Australia is not much better.
The Diamonds would love to take the upper hand before the series heads across the ditch for the final two tests.
“What we want to do is make sure that we come out and really attack the game. We’re not here to be passive, we’re not here to take a backward step and build into anything.
“It’s actually making sure that the moment we step over that line and that first whistle that we’re really switched on and we’re transferring what we’ve been doing in the training environment and just really looking forward to being bold and being brave.”
Australian defender Sarah Klau (middle).
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There’s a chance the Silver Ferns could take the number one world ranking off the Diamonds if they win at least three of the four tests, but it is not something Australia have talked about.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t be able to tell you how the wins and losses [will impact rankings]. We don’t talk about rankings … each time we step out there, it’s about the performance that we put in,” Marinkovich said.
“Rankings take care of themselves, it’s no doubt that we want to stay on top, but you’ve got to put in the work to get there.”
A few weeks ago the Diamonds were dealing with off-court drama when Australian defender Sarah Klau faced an unprecedented assault charge.
Klau was sanctioned by the sport’s governing body after pleading guilty to assault and failing to disclose the matter prior to the Commonwealth Games.
Following an investigation into the incident, Netball Australia handed Klau a NZ$6200 fine and a two-game ban that is wholly suspended for 12 months.
Marinkovich said she was not worried that some of the focus could be on Klau when she steps on court for the series.
“No, we’ve had camp and it’s once we’ve come into the environment all attention’s been on how we want to play the game. You know she’s gone through that journey and we’re certainly there to support her and you know the way in which she’s been training you would never know that there’s been any difference.”
Having her team-mates around her would help Klau put herself out there again, Marinkovich said.
“It was a moment in time, and you know she took responsibility for that, and that’s what we acknowledge as a team is, you know facing that moment.
“For us it’s been about the performance on the court, just focusing on how she gets that connection, and I think that’s the beauty of it when you come in. We all have our different journeys and experiences, but it’s what we do when we come together.”
The battle between Grace Nweke (left) and Australian defender Courtney Bruce (right) should be a highlight of the series.
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Veteran Australian defender Courtney Bruce, who is on the verge of bringing up her 100th game, can’t get enough of the trans-Tasman rivalry.
“I love playing in New Zealand too, I think having the New Zealand crowd against us, they’re so passionate. They love their netball, they love their fans, so it’s always really good when we come here,” Bruce said.
Netball fans will be looking forward to the notoriously spicy battle between Bruce and Grace Nweke, who was the highest goal scorer at the Commonwealth Games.
Bruce also rates Silver Ferns’ captain Karin Burger as a player they need to get on top of.
“I’m really lucky that I get to play with Karin in my environment with the Sunshine Coast Lightning. So I’m excited to see our goal attacks go off against her and see if we can shut her down a little bit because she is quite influential.”
Constellation Cup
Game 1: Silver Ferns v Diamonds, Sunday, 18 October – 7:40PM, Spark Arena, Auckland
Game 2: Silver Ferns v Diamonds, Wednesday, 21 October – 7:40PM, Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch
Game 3: Diamonds v Silver Ferns, Sunday, 25 October – 6PM, Afterpay Arena, Sydney
Game 4: Diamonds v Silver Ferns, Wednesday, 28 October – 9:40PM, John Cain Arena, Melbourne