OLD rivals Australia and New Zealand will face off once again for the battle of the Netball World Cup championship. Coming off two-goal wins, there is plenty of history between both countries making for an enthralling battle. Both sides are renowned for their tenacity and hunt for the ball along with their physical pressure meaning no stone will be left unturned.

You can bet your bottom dollar that the New Zealand Silver Ferns will be playing with nothing but passion and belief knocking off championship favourites England in an all mighty battle. but in the end, it was the grit and determination of the Ferns that got them over the line and they will be drawing on that, in the contest with the Diamonds. With star players across the court and a wealth of inspirational leaders the Ferns have plenty to prove. Laura Langman has lifted with each and every game putting her body on the line and wreaking havoc across each third picking up loose ball and penetrating the circle edge with ease. her connection with both Shannon Saunders and Gina Crampton has steadily developed with all three midcourters finding good space and feeding the ball easily into the shooters while also displaying their impressive efforts on the second phase transition. There is no denying the defensive capabilities of the Silver Ferns line-up with veteran Casey Kopua steering the ship down back imposing herself on the contest with her timely tips and impeccable vision. While Kopua has continued her dominance on the international stage, Jane Watson has made a name for herself relishing the big stage and making the most of her opportunities swatting away any errant passes and using her clever footwork to cleanly get around the body of her opponent and pick up intercepts. Katrina Rore and Phoenix Karaka have also shown their worth in the defensive end with Rore rotating through the wing defence with Karin Burger in her debut World Cup. Burger has been sensational denying easy access to the goal circle and using her long arm span to block her oppositions vision. Up the other end, Noeline Taurua has a plethora of options with all four shooters able to have an impact and connect well with one another. Maria Folau has been a rock in the goal circle shooting from literally anywhere, while her partnership with Ameliaranne Ekenasio has grown throughout the series making them hard to stop when on song. The aerial ability of Bailey Mes also poses a threat for the Diamonds while Te Paea Selby-Rickit has proven that she can be an impact player with her accuracy and timing.

The reigning champions have plenty to play for and will be looking to claim their twelfth World Cup against their old foe. Given their rich history the Diamonds know how the Ferns play and will want to set the tone from the get go with good ball speed and precision down the court. They have struggled to hit their straps in the past two games but will be riding a wave of emotions and adrenaline that could be enough to get them over the line. The Diamonds shooting line-up of Caitlin Bassett and Steph Wood is tried and tested with both impressing on the world stage and knowing each other’s game plan in and out. But given both have been coached by Taurua they will have to add a point of difference to their game plan if the Diamonds are to prevail. There is no denying that Bassett is a commanding presence under the post with her strong holds and height making her a challenge for opposition defenders while her clever footwork to edge herself under the goal post is equally as impressive. Wood is a master through the attacking third creating strong drives and space while also hitting the scoreboard but Gretel Tippett’s unpredictable nature could cause real headaches for the Ferns. Tippett is renowned for her unconventional netball style and attacking flair making her a real asset for the Diamonds in the goal circle. Not only does she draw the attention of the defender but she is accurate to post and can put up a handy total. In her second World Cup appearance, Caitlin Thwaites has showcased her dominance to post with strong holds and versatility to get on the move and shoot from anywhere in the circle. Wing attack Kelsey Browne has been in career best form with the speedster running rings around her opponent and hitting the circle edge with pace time and time again. Her quick hands and exceptional vision makes her an ominous threat for the Ferns. The midcourt is a real point of difference for the Aussies, with no designated centre coach Lisa Alexander has a wealth of options with Jamie-Lee Price, Paige Hadley and Liz Watson all getting a run. Watson’s skill with ball in hand, ability to stop on a dime and deliver perfectly weighted passes into the goal circle makes her an imposing threat while Hadley’s strength cannot be denied. Price has left her mark more so in the wing defence position with her tight marking and hands over pressure while both Jo Weston and April Brandley have also rotated through that position. Both Sarah Klau and Courtney Bruce have been exceptional in defence getting hands to ball and using their feet to confuse the space and pick off cross court passes to deny access into the goal circle.

There will be plenty of tantalising match-ups right across the court but in the end the game will be won through the midcourt. It will depend on which team can settle first and which midcourt can penetrate through the oppositions defence with ease and composure. Keep an eye on Langman and Watson given both are renowned for their strength and inability to take a backwards step.