NZLvAUS: the rivalry explained
September 22, 2015
The Constellation Cup; the symbol of intense rivalry between Netball’s two powerhouses.
New Zealand and Australia have played out many epic contests on the sporting battlefield. Rugby, cricket, rugby league, hockey, cycling – the list is endless – but sitting near the top is Netball.
For 77 years the Silver Ferns and Australian Diamonds have done battle in a rivalry that has stood the test of time.
Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds – GET TICKETS
In the month leading up to the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup, silverferns.co.nz will re-live some of the historic on-court battles between two of Netball’s powerhouses.
To start things off, in the book ‘Greatest Moments in New Zealand Netball History’, Dana Johannsen takes us inside the making of Netball’s greatest rivalry in the first of a four part series.
‘A long rivalry filled with much drama’
By Dana Johannsen
When it comes to sporting contests, there is no more fierce rivalry than that of the competition between New Zealand and Australia.
This is mostly borne from the proximity of the two countries and the idea that Kiwis love to get one over their bigger and brasher neighbours across the ditch.
This is certainly a factor in trans-Tasman netball relations, but what strengthens the rivalry even more on the Netball court is the fact the two countries also happen to be the best in the world.
For many years it has been Australia and New Zealand interchanging between ranked No. 1 and No. 2.
In recent times England and Jamaica have emerged as a strong threat to Australasia’s stranglehold at the top of the rankings, but while they have managed to cause the odd upset, they have yet to be successful at the big tournaments.
Some may consider a sporting code with two-nation hegemony a bit of a bore. But New Zealand and Australian Netball clashes never seem to fail to provide great sporting drama.
It is like the respective federations have secretly hired Hollywood scriptwriters to deliver twists, turns, thrills and nail-biting, cliff-hanging outcomes, every time the two nations take to the court.
The trans-Tasman neighbours have competed in almost every major Netball final since the world championships started in 1963 -- and all of them have been legendary tussles.
The two nations have been doing battle on the Netball court since 1938, when Margaret Matangi’s side set sail across the Tasman to take on Australia in a one-off Test. The match was played outside on a grass court at Melbourne’s Royal Park, under rules with which New Zealand, who played a nine-a-side game up until the late 1950’s, were not familiar.
It is unlikely anybody in that touring party would have predicted that from those humble beginnings, one of the greatest sporting rivalries would one day blossom.
To honour that long-held rivalry, Netball New Zealand and their Australian counterparts introduced a new prize which the two teams play for every time they meet -- much like rugby’s Bledisloe Cup.
Previously sponsor trophies were awarded at the end of the series played in the host country -- now the Constellation Cup is an enduring symbol of trans-Tasman Netball supremacy.
Follow the Silver Ferns on the road to the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup by joining the team as a SilverFan! As a SilverFan you’ll get exclusive content, special offers and a members’-only e-newsletter. Join the team, become a SilverFan today!
For 77 years the Silver Ferns and Australian Diamonds have done battle in a rivalry that has stood the test of time.
Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds – GET TICKETS
In the month leading up to the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup, silverferns.co.nz will re-live some of the historic on-court battles between two of Netball’s powerhouses.
To start things off, in the book ‘Greatest Moments in New Zealand Netball History’, Dana Johannsen takes us inside the making of Netball’s greatest rivalry in the first of a four part series.
‘A long rivalry filled with much drama’
By Dana Johannsen
When it comes to sporting contests, there is no more fierce rivalry than that of the competition between New Zealand and Australia.
This is mostly borne from the proximity of the two countries and the idea that Kiwis love to get one over their bigger and brasher neighbours across the ditch.
This is certainly a factor in trans-Tasman netball relations, but what strengthens the rivalry even more on the Netball court is the fact the two countries also happen to be the best in the world.
For many years it has been Australia and New Zealand interchanging between ranked No. 1 and No. 2.
In recent times England and Jamaica have emerged as a strong threat to Australasia’s stranglehold at the top of the rankings, but while they have managed to cause the odd upset, they have yet to be successful at the big tournaments.
Some may consider a sporting code with two-nation hegemony a bit of a bore. But New Zealand and Australian Netball clashes never seem to fail to provide great sporting drama.
It is like the respective federations have secretly hired Hollywood scriptwriters to deliver twists, turns, thrills and nail-biting, cliff-hanging outcomes, every time the two nations take to the court.
The trans-Tasman neighbours have competed in almost every major Netball final since the world championships started in 1963 -- and all of them have been legendary tussles.
The two nations have been doing battle on the Netball court since 1938, when Margaret Matangi’s side set sail across the Tasman to take on Australia in a one-off Test. The match was played outside on a grass court at Melbourne’s Royal Park, under rules with which New Zealand, who played a nine-a-side game up until the late 1950’s, were not familiar.
It is unlikely anybody in that touring party would have predicted that from those humble beginnings, one of the greatest sporting rivalries would one day blossom.
To honour that long-held rivalry, Netball New Zealand and their Australian counterparts introduced a new prize which the two teams play for every time they meet -- much like rugby’s Bledisloe Cup.
Previously sponsor trophies were awarded at the end of the series played in the host country -- now the Constellation Cup is an enduring symbol of trans-Tasman Netball supremacy.
Follow the Silver Ferns on the road to the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup by joining the team as a SilverFan! As a SilverFan you’ll get exclusive content, special offers and a members’-only e-newsletter. Join the team, become a SilverFan today!