Arriving in Auckland with a 1-0 series lead in the Constellation Cup, Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua knows her side's job is far from done.
In a replay of this year's World Cup final, the Silver Ferns came up trumps over Australia once again in Christchurch yesterday afternoon, holding out for a thrilling 53-52 win to lead the four match series 1-0.
Touching down in Auckland this morning ahead of Wednesday's second match of the series at Spark Arena though, coach Taurua noted the similarities between yesterday's victory, and the 52-51 win to seal the Netball World Cup in Liverpool back in July.
"I do believe with both teams, it's always going to be close," Taurua told 1 NEWS.
"I'm really happy that it is, that we're back to that trans-Tasman rivalry, and the competitive nature out there, but did not envisage that the last one minute was going to be exactly the same, and on that same side of the court as well.
"I'm really happy that we were able to keep possession of the ball, and do what we do in those critical moments."
Having locked the Netball World Cup away for four years at least, Taurua says that it's about time the Constellation Cup returned to Kiwi shores as well, having not won the series since 2012.
"The outcome of winning the Constellation Cup - or any event - is really what it's all about. That's what the KPIs [key performance indicators] say in the contract.
"The outcome is definitely what it is of winning the Constellation Cup, and knowing that we haven't done that for such a long time, but also pulling that back, for us as a team and myself as a coach, really concentrating on the processes. That's going to make us successful.
"We're working that really well within the team. I think we're head down, really working hard and looking to improve and be better from the previous round.
"We're walking the talk at the moment, and that's probably the most pleasing aspect, but also not disrespecting Australia, knowing that they're definitely number one in our sport and knowing that, and have always been able to perform from one game to another."
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