Silver Ferns determined for strong showing in final Test
October 13, 2017
A disappointed Silver Ferns have one last shot to show their true colours when they meet the Australian Diamonds in the fourth Constellation Cup Test in Sydney on Saturday.
With the trophy in Australia’s keeping for another season, the Silver Ferns have proved their own worst enemy at times and there is now a strong sense of resolve to put that right in Sydney.
WATCH LIVE: 5pm (NZT) SKY Sport 2
ON DELAY: 10.30pm (NZT) on Prime
“We’ve got to play with pride and we’ve got to play a whole lot better,” Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby said.
“You don’t step at this level, you don’t break at this level…..you’ve just got to cut those basic errors out. We know the passing places where we’re getting into trouble and we’re still persisting at passing into them. We just can’t expect to play as we have and get away with it at this level.”
There were improved signs in a momentum-swinging third Test, wholesale changes in the third quarter igniting a stirring Silver Ferns comeback. Seemingly down and out, the visitors showed some determination to cut the deficit from 11 to four but could not sustain the effort as the Diamonds roared home in the final stanza.
“I thought the changes in the third quarter worked really well and I thought we had it,” Southby said. “They had the desire but didn’t keep their heads in that last quarter or make good decisions.
“We stopped doing the work that we’d been doing so well, and again, let things get the better of us. There were situations that happened out there and we didn’t cope well with it, so it was a huge learning for all of them.
“We train for it and when you’re out there under pressure, it’s still being able to absorb it and make good decisions. So, we need to go back and look at our systems and make sure that all our players are prepared really well mentally and physically to cope with what’s thrown at us.”
Fans can tune into SKY Sport 2 from 5pm (NZT) Saturday afternoon, for all the action from the final Test of the Constellation Cup. Delayed coverage will be shown on Prime from 10.30pm.
With the trophy in Australia’s keeping for another season, the Silver Ferns have proved their own worst enemy at times and there is now a strong sense of resolve to put that right in Sydney.
WATCH LIVE: 5pm (NZT) SKY Sport 2
ON DELAY: 10.30pm (NZT) on Prime
“We’ve got to play with pride and we’ve got to play a whole lot better,” Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby said.
“You don’t step at this level, you don’t break at this level…..you’ve just got to cut those basic errors out. We know the passing places where we’re getting into trouble and we’re still persisting at passing into them. We just can’t expect to play as we have and get away with it at this level.”
There were improved signs in a momentum-swinging third Test, wholesale changes in the third quarter igniting a stirring Silver Ferns comeback. Seemingly down and out, the visitors showed some determination to cut the deficit from 11 to four but could not sustain the effort as the Diamonds roared home in the final stanza.
“I thought the changes in the third quarter worked really well and I thought we had it,” Southby said. “They had the desire but didn’t keep their heads in that last quarter or make good decisions.
“We stopped doing the work that we’d been doing so well, and again, let things get the better of us. There were situations that happened out there and we didn’t cope well with it, so it was a huge learning for all of them.
“We train for it and when you’re out there under pressure, it’s still being able to absorb it and make good decisions. So, we need to go back and look at our systems and make sure that all our players are prepared really well mentally and physically to cope with what’s thrown at us.”
Fans can tune into SKY Sport 2 from 5pm (NZT) Saturday afternoon, for all the action from the final Test of the Constellation Cup. Delayed coverage will be shown on Prime from 10.30pm.