Silver Ferns brace for Australian backlash

Thursday night's thumping will all be for nothing if the Silver Ferns can't back up tomorrow in netball's third Constellation Cup match, in Auckland.

The Ferns trounced the Diamonds in Wellington and the 19-goal shellacking put the zip back into the Kiwis' step. But those Aussies are plucky and coach Norma Plummer is cunning.

When the Australians beat the Ferns in Adelaide six days ago, Plummer's side dominated the last five minutes to win. On Thursday the Silver Ferns dominated all 60 minutes.

So, while the series might be locked at 1-1, the momentum and confidence is dressed in black.

How often would we ever hear Australian captain Sharee McMahon conceding so heavily after the match.

"Our ball handling was poor, our timing was poor, our defensive pressure was poor and I could keep listing the things that we didn't do well and New Zealand did."

Plummer will have plans A, B, C through M all lined up ready to make sure the embarrassing loss is only avenged.That's what the Silver Ferns are expecting.

"I'm not sure you can do anything about the Australians and how they're feeling and how they'll respond," assistant coach Waimarama Taumaunu said.

"But Lois Muir used to say our desire has to be greater than theirs. Even though it was 25 years ago, the sentiment remains the same. We have to want this more and we have to do that by taking the court and playing the way we can again.

"Our desire was certainly high, but I would never say an Australian team went into a game without desire."

Improving on the 19-goal winning margin might be difficult, but improving on the performance wouldn't be, Taumaunu said. "It was a pleasing performance but it wasn't perfect."

Silver Ferns goal attack Maria Tutaia said although the attack was vastly improved from the Adelaide game, there was still plenty to be done.

"I was really proud of Irene," she said. "The criticism that she, that we both copped this week has been great motivation for us to go out and show the New Zealand public what we were capable of. "

Meanwhile the Canterbury women's team will open their national provincial campaign against Western at Palmerston North tomorrow.

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