11 Oct 2017

Time for Silver Ferns to clear the air

10:37 am on 11 October 2017

There have been some frank clear the air conversations among the Silver Ferns as they try and rescue their Constellation Cup netball series against Australia.

Katrina Grant of the Silver Ferns prepares for the Constellation Cup netball match against Australian Diamonds, 2017.

Katrina Grant of the Silver Ferns prepares for the Constellation Cup netball match against Australian Diamonds, 2017. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The third test of the four match series is in Adelaide with the Diamonds up two nil and able to seal the series with victory tonight.

The Silver Ferns captain Katrina Grant concedes their performances have been below par and there's been plenty of discussion about what's going wrong.

"We have had people come in and help us learn how to do it. You can't just sit down and all of a sudden rip into somebody about their performance.

"Knowing how to speak to each other on the court when things aren't going well (is important)..there's nothing personal in it and what happens on the court stays on the court but you have to take it constructively and as a positive."

"I threw away the ball the other night and Shannon (Francois) is like don't do that again or if you'd passed it here it would have been better for me, those kind of things we really need to be up front about and honest rather than going quiet and within ourselves because that's not going to help us."

New Zealand have won three of their last four tests in Australia and Grant said that is something they are well aware of.

"That's massive for us and it means we know that we can play in Australia and play well....and for some of our inexperienced players being away from the pressue of home may help them let things go and not worry about external pressures and simply come here and play the game."

Te Paea Selby-Rickit of the Silver Ferns and Courtney Bruce of the Diamonds fight for the ball during the Constellation Cup 2017.

Te Paea Selby-Rickit of the Silver Ferns and Courtney Bruce of the Diamonds fight for the ball during the Constellation Cup 2017. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Meanwhile the Australian midcourter Liz Watson says she hopes they smash with the Silver Ferns in tonight's third game.

The Diamonds won the first game in Auckland by four goals and the second in Christchurch by eight.

Watson says they want a more dominant performance on their home courts.

"We do want to smash them, I think the games we've had we've had wins but not convincing wins and everytime we push out to a five or six goal lead it seems that they get back in within two or one, so once we get to eight lets make it ten goals and really push it out."

The 4th and final game is in Sydeny on Saturday.

-RNZ