Australia Diamonds vs New Zealand Ferns, latest results, highlights, talking points, analysis, netball news\u060c<\/p>\n
Australia coach Stacey Marinkovich tasked her world champion Diamonds with a four-quarter performance in the Constellation Cup final and deciding test on Monday after losing to New Zealand 56-53 in a see-saw affair in Invercargill last night.<\/p>\n
Led by a powerful defensive effort and 21-year-old shooter Grace Nweke, who shot 34\/36 in 46 minutes in her second match following a kneecap injury, the Ferns got the better of Australia in the third test to recover the series. at 2\/1.<\/p>\n
The Kiwis must now win<\/a> the final match, in Auckland on Monday afternoon, by 17 or more to claim the trophy, which goes to Australia.<\/p>\n Watch all Constellation Cup Series 2023 matches for free and live on Kayo Freebies. Sign up now and start<\/a> streaming instantly ><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n The Silver Ferns shoot in the last minutes! | 01:12<\/p>\n But the Diamonds won’t be happy with winning on goal differential. <\/p>\n “We’re definitely not coming in to try to win on goal percentage or on for-and-against,” Marinkovich said after last night’s loss.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to be able to come away from this Constellation Cup knowing that our style of netball<\/a> can be played in New Zealand and in front of (their) home crowds and that we can absorb the environment but also have great confidence to attack the match.<\/p>\n \u201cWe showed that in games we did it for two\u2026but can we do it in four quarters?\u201d \u00bb Marinkovitch asked.<\/p>\n Here are the big talking points from the clash.<\/p>\n Ferns in the area: Plummer<\/b><\/p>\n South Africa coach and Australian legend Norma Plummer – currently in Cairns preparing the Proteas for an upcoming three-Test series against the Diamonds – said the Silver Ferns went back to basics to claim victory, leaning heavily on the omnipresent Kiwi zone.<\/p>\n \u201cThe second quarter saw New Zealand finally strengthen their zonal defense, after being poor (in this area) in the first two games of the Constellation Cup,\u201d Plummer told Fox Netball. <\/p>\n \u201cThey got a lot of ball back and forced a change in the Diamonds’ shooting,\u201d the big coach said, referring to a change that saw Cara Koenen replace Kiera Austin at goal attack and Sophie Garbin move to shooter about four minutes before halftime. .<\/p>\n Plummer was full of praise for Kiwi goaltender Kelly Jury, who finished with five gains, including two steals, two rebounds, a deflection with a gain, as well as a game-high four deflections without a gain . The veteran coach said the MVP’s “strong defense on the shot was impressive.”<\/p>\n But there was plenty of support from the jury, with the Ferns remaining disciplined in defense all over the pitch.<\/p>\n