Grace Nweke of New Zealand. New Zealand Silver Ferns v Australia Origin Diamonds Constellation Cup netball match at Spark Arena. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
History says the Silver Ferns will get "walloped" when the Constellation Cup games are played in Australia, but coach Dame Noeline Taurua hopes this is a new era.
New Zealand cross the Tasman in control of the four-test series against the Australian Diamonds after defending their home court.
A big win on Sunday in Wellington was followed up by a nine-goal win in Auckland on Wednesday night which makes the silverware the Silver Ferns' to lose.
Despite holding a 2-0 advantage the Silver Ferns know playing the world number one Diamonds on their home court first in Perth on Sunday and then to wrap up the series in Melbourne on 30 October will need them to defy the odds and the history books once more.
Australia have only lost the trophy once in the past 10 series, going down in 2021. Since the inception of the competition in 2010 New Zealand has held the trophy twice.
The Constellation Cup has a pattern - home sides win.
Sophie Dwyer of Australia. New Zealand Silver Ferns v Australia Origin Diamonds Constellation Cup netball match at Spark Arena, Auckland. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Neither Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich or Dame Noeline could crack the code as to why this rivalry struggled on the road.
"The court dimensions are the same, the flooring is pretty much the same," Marinkovich said.
"There is definitely an atmosphere that comes with it but I think a lot of the international games that I've been a part of we've played overseas for a lot of them so it's not like we're unfamiliar with playing in enemy territory and it is something we usually embrace and thrive in...it's something we've got to work out why we're not attacking the game as much when we're [in New Zealand]."
For Dame Noeline she had not forgotten what had happened in Australia during her reign as coach.
"Every time we have gone over there for the third test we've been walloped...we've got to be smart in what we do and this is a big test for us and it's pretty cool.
"If we're going to do it now is the time to do it so maybe this is just the next step on our rung as to how important everything is but also the learning and growth that is happening in this team so time will tell as to what that looks like."
Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio relished being on the cusp of something special.
"I've never been in that position ever in the 10 years that I've been here so I'm looking forward to that."
Ekenasio wanted to win it in three but should the series go to extra time for the first time under new competition rules to decide the outright winner she would not be too disappointed.
"I just think it is exciting for netball it's exciting for the game we as players don't want to end it in two a piece..nobody wants to see that so I think it's really exciting for us you get a clear winner and you get to see what people are going to be made of."
Claire O'Brien of New Zealand and Jamie-Lee Price of Australia. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Marinkovich was focussed on how to get back into the series and wanted to break it down into small steps.
"High performance sport you're always looking for the result and you're also looking for how to improve everything.
"I think sometimes you've actually got to hone in on what worked really really well and how do you get more of that so that's the discussion we've got to have is making sure you get balance because it's hard just chasing everything you want to improve as opposed to really making your strengths really prominent for a longer period of time."
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