Former Silver Fern and current Mainland Tactix head coach Donna Wilkins has weighed in on the Silver Ferns’ back-to-back comprehensive performances against the Australian Diamonds, admitting she thinks the visitors were “in their own head”.
The Dame Noeline Taurua-coached Silver Ferns put one hand on the Constellation Cup trophy on Wednesday evening in Christchurch, holding off a third-quarter Diamonds comeback to take an important 2-0 series lead.
At the crux of the Silver Ferns’ triumph was mid-courter Peta Toeava, who flexed her muscles in tandem with shooter Grace Nweke, the pair showcasing the benefits of their long-time partnership at the Northern Mystics.
Karin Burger and Kelly Jackson held strong defensively in the second Test, while the Kiwis put their foot on the throat in the fourth quarter to clinch another memorable victory.
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Wilkins, who played 56 times for the Silver Ferns, said that on reflection, she felt Taurua’s side frustrated the Diamonds.
“I think so, and I think the Australian Diamonds are inside their own heads as well. I talked about it after the game to a few people; they struggle to get the ball off the Silver Ferns,” Wilkins told Sport Nation’s Scotty & Izzy.
“Grace is so much stronger in the air, and we’re getting better at feeding her. Even if she misses, she normally gets the rebound because they can’t out-jump her to get the ball, so getting the ball off the Silver Ferns is really slim.
“It’s normally through one of our errors if we turn over the ball and not necessarily them getting it intercepted. So that then just mounts so much pressure on their attack, and you can see their attack isn’t coping.
“They can’t and don’t want to shoot over Kelly’s long limbs; they’re having to try and adapt just so they can go to the post. They’re throwing the ball in and out of the circle so many times when they could just turn, and they’re right there.
Grace Nweke has starred in another trans-Tasman netball win for New Zealand | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
“So, I definitely think that they’re in their own heads and the Silver Ferns are definitely featuring quite strongly in theirs.”
The current Tactix head coach praised Toeava, whose combination with Nweke was clear from minute one.
“It’s one of the better games I’ve seen her play, actually. She’s always been there or thereabouts, but we also know that she is great at feeding Grace.
“She’s played with Grace for a number of years, and so that was really nice for her to be able to get that start and play with Grace, and she just picked up where she’d left off.
“I thought that she just did her job. Sometimes in the Mystics environment, she has to do a lot more, but it was nice to see her have a great performance.”
Listen to the full interview below: