The Australian Diamonds have made it clear they aim to improve on Perth. They’re preparing to face the New Zealand Silver Ferns in an upcoming Constellation Cup series. Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich’s Diamonds were in fantastic form in the recent series win over South Africa. The Silver Ferns enter this matchup with their confidence restored. They recently roared to their first series win over the Proteas since 2021, even without their former head coach, Dame Noeline Taurua.
Noeline Taurua was suspended by New Zealand Netball following an independent investigation by Sport NZ. That investigation revealed a shocking pattern of toxicity within the team’s culture. While she is away, former American University and Bermuda national coach Yvette McCausland-Durie has been named interim head coach. That change has come at an opportune time too, as the Silver Ferns gear up for a three-game series against a powerful Diamonds outfit.
Recent Performances and Changes
Reigning champions from 2017, the Diamonds proved their worth during a recent three match series vs. South Africa, winning all three matches. Influential players such as Sophie Dwyer, Amy Parmenter and Sunday Aryang outperformed expectations and secured places in the Constellation Cup squad. On the other hand, Jo Weston, Alice Teague-Neeld, and Lucy Austin have all opted out of this co-opting.
Stacey Marinkovich made the most of her player rotation and using new combinations to experiment with in her squad. She stated, “There’s things that we still need to see from other players and still need to rotate combinations from within our squad.” This approach reflects her commitment to optimizing team performance ahead of the high-stakes matches against the Silver Ferns.
Leadership Changes Impacting the Silver Ferns
It wasn’t in the lineup that just swept their series in South Africa, even without Dame Noeline Taurua on the bench. By her own admission, under her leadership, the team was challenged with poor communication and micromanagement. As the criticism increased, player outcry increased, forcing her eventual ousting. Silver Ferns and their captain, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, have pulled out of the trans-Tasman series with Diamonds starting on Wednesday. This decision makes the interim coach’s already difficult task even tougher.
Nonetheless, with such rapid changes, McCausland-Durie has risen to the occasion to lead the new team. Her focus remains on harnessing the talent and potential of the players during this transitional period.
“She’s (Teague-Neeld) done an incredible job and I think that’s the thing, players are taking their opportunities,” – Stacey Marinkovich
Anticipation for Upcoming Tests
The new series will end with two Tests played in New Zealand. Last year, the Diamonds lost the Constellation Cup to the Silver Ferns, igniting a competitive desire to reclaim their status on the international stage.
As both teams make the final preparations for these decisive games, Marinkovich is full of belief that her side are up to the task. She noted the importance of evaluating player performances: “Hannah’s only been out there for one game.”
