Hurting Diamonds aim to salvage pride in final Test

Australia's netball Diamonds looked gum after their third straight defeat to New Zealand. Photo: AAP
Australia trail New Zealand 3-0 in the Constellation Cup series, but they have a chance to salvage some pride in the final Test in Melbourne Wednesday.
The Diamonds hit a new low in Perth on Sunday when they suffered a shock 61-43 loss in front of 13,048 fans at RAC Arena.
And it marked the first time NZ have beaten the Diamonds by double digits in three consecutive Tests, and was their first win on Australian soil since 2019.

New Zealand celebrate after winning their Constellation Cup match in Perth. Photo: AAP
Remarkably, NZ have used the same seven players for every single minute of all three of the Constellation Cup matches.
Goalshooter Grace Nweke has been the difference in the series, returning hauls of 50, 47 and 47 goals.
Centre Maddy Gordon was MVP in game one, Nweke was the choice in game two and wing defence Kate Heffernan earned the honour on Sunday.
The Silver Ferns now have the chance to achieve something theyâve never done before â sweeping Australia 4-0 in the Constellation Cup.
But coach Noeline Taurua is also weighing up the opportunity to give some of the teamâs fringe players game time in Melbourne in a move that could reduce their chances of securing a series sweep.
âOpportunities do exist and present for us now, which is pretty cool,â Taurua said.
âI think weâve got to be very smart. Our Bomb Squad had been training amazing, and theyâve been champing at the bit to try and get on.
âItâs an opportunity to look at that depth.
âBut also 4-0 is a beautiful potential thing that weâve never been able to do before.

Australia coach Stacey Marinkovich is hoping for a quick bounce back by her team in Melbourne. Photo: AAP
âSo getting that balance is really critical for us moving forward, and something that I have to talk with the leadership group as to what we do in that respect.â
In the wake of the three heavy losses, Australia coach Stacey Marinkovich questioned whether her team entered the series mentally fatigued.
Marinkovich says she will investigate the failings of this series to ensure it doesnât happen again, but is confident there are some quick fixes that can be made ahead of the fourth Test in Melbourne.
âWeâve done things a little bit different in terms of we had a series (against England), then we had a break. They went back home and trained,â Marinkovich said.
âSo I think thereâs a lot of things that weâve just got to look at and go, âOK, whatâs causing this sort of cloudedness?â
âThereâs mistakes that are happening. Itâs just not the norm.
âWeâve known for a very long time that thereâs one per cent between the top teams, Jamaica, England, Australia, NZ.
âItâs just where international netball is. So it is tight, and if youâre not at your best, you get found out pretty well.
âAll the girls that sit in the room are hurting, and we all take responsibility as to where we want to go.â
âAAP
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