Silver Fern Grace Nweke shoots for goal during the 2023 Constellation Cup. Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
Getting back to back wins against Australia has always been a challenge for the Silver Ferns and today will be no different in the final test of the Constellation Cup.
The Silver Ferns kept the series alive after beating their arch rivals 56-53 in Test three on Thursday.
With Australia holding a 2-1 lead and a healthy goal differential, the Silver Ferns would need to beat the Diamonds by 17 goals to actually win the series.
But a win would be an achievement in itself because the Silver Ferns know the World Cup holders will come out with an extra level of ferocity in the decider in Auckland this afternoon.
Coach Dame Noeline Taurua said the Silver Ferns had to focus on what they could control.
"It was a great game in test number three and there's a lot of positives out of that but then it goes down to our finer attention to detail - recovery, nutrition and making sure we stay in the space of test number four mentally.
"We've talked about it and so far our actions have been really good but I think being patient when we have ball in hand is going to be the name of the game," Dame Noeline said.
One of the big highlights of test three was the outstanding performance of goal keep Kelly Jury, who racked up a number of deflections and intercepts.
Kelly Jury during the Constellation Cup netball series 2022. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The experienced defender had been on the back foot at times during the first two Tests but Dame Noeline said they kept her out there because they felt she was starting to hit her straps.
"That's always what I want to do because you learn while you're out there and that's the only way you can learn from what's happening at that moment but also what you need to do in the next moment of time.
"That's sort of what I've been doing for the last two and a half years but it's always a fine line because you want to get the result then and there too.
"The next challenge for Kelly would be making sure that she can put a next performance out there where she's equally world class level."
Dame Noeline was also pleased with the progress Kate Heffernan had made with each game of the series, marking the best wing attack in the world in Liz Watson.
"There's still a bit of work because she's up against the maestro. In the first test Liz took her one way to go the other way and I think she's just starting to understand that and the next step now is to get more ball and get a better line so I think she's progressing nicely.
"I actually do like Kate at centre as well, but with Maddy [Gordon] coming in there. If we can strengthen Kate's game at wing defence, sort of like how we did with a Laura Langman many years ago so that she can master the wing defence position and then as she gets older, she can come into the centre swing as well."
Heffernan spent most of the World Cup at centre but Gordon has been given the nod in that position since test two of the recent series against England.
"This is the first year really that Maddy has been in the centre position. She's steady in attack and defence …there's more opportunities for her to get ball instead of being ill disciplined when she's hunting.
"We're starting to see the shifts in each match and she's going to go, she's got a great big engine."
Kate Heffernan Photo: Christiaan Kotze/C&C Photo Agency
The Silver Ferns coach made a number of timely substitutions in test three, all of which had a positive effect on the game.
"I'm still learning myself with this current group as to when they do come on what do they bring. And that's probably a step up from the past, probably even in Netball World Cup, where they've been able to come on and they've made an impact.
"Tiana [Metuarau] made an impact, at that moment it changed the game. Then when the change needs to happen Ameliaranne [Ekenasio] will come on and shoot the lights out and bring a bit of calmness."
Amelia Walmsley has more than held her own as a young shooter coming up against the toughest defence in the world.
The 19-year-old has shared minutes with front-line shooter Grace Nweke, who's been on a managed load as she returns from her World Cup ending injury.
There haven't been a lot of times across the history of the Silver Ferns where the side has had two tall targets in the team at the same time.
"It is heartening to know that we do have two big shooters. It would be lovely if we can start to get a bit more movement out of one of them so that we can expand that skill set but that will be a long grind.
"But Amelia herself I'm amazed knowing she's only 19 and her work ethic is beyond her years and her wanting to be better but it's such a treat to have her in."
- RNZ
