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Constellation Cup Live Updates: Australian Diamonds vs New Zealand Silver Ferns Game 3
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Constellation Cup Live Updates: Australian Diamonds vs New Zealand Silver Ferns Game 3

The starting 7 have arrived

Very good, a lot of changes in this formation of seven starters for the Diamonds. Sophie Dwyer gets the green light in GA as KieraAustin abandons the team. Dwyer has had a big impact coming off the bench in the last two games.

Jamie Lee Price moves to wing defense to make room for PAige Hadley has center, while Sarah Klau pushes in front of the goal defense while Courtney Bruce collects his usual starting bib from the goalkeeper. No sign of the potential newbie Georgie Horjus Again.

For the third game in a row, the Silver Ferns are running with the same starting seven. And why not? That works. Head coach Noéline Taurua is clearly satisfied with their production.

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Not long now!

what time does the game start please

-Simon

Hi Simon, the match starts in about 14 minutes at 7pm AEDT. You can watch the match on Kayo Sports or Fox Netball if you are in Australia. If you’re abroad, you can sign up for Netball Pass and stream it to your phone or other smart device.

Sold in Perth

Reports suggest the match at Perth Arena is sold out. It is one of the largest netball stadiums in Australia and West Coast Fever regularly attracts over 10,000 people to its matches. So let’s hope they cheer loud and clear for the Diamonds tonight!

Three girls hold up signs for the Diamonds team
Young fans show their support.(Getty)

Australia must win everything from here

Not only do Australia need to win the next two matches in Perth and Melbourne to level the series, but to win the Constellation Cup they will also need to win a mini-match at the end of the fourth game.

In the last two series, when the series was tied at 2, it all came down to goal difference. But there was a change this year, introducing a 14-minute period of “series-deciding time.”

Why not just play an unequal number of games, you ask? Say three or five matches? Excellent question. We wonder the same thing…

Bold changes

After the Diamonds lost the first game in Wellington (64-50) and the second game in Auckland (63-52), the head coach of the Australian team Stacey Marinkovich made bold changes to his team on match day.

Experienced players Keira Austin, Kate Moloney And Joe Weston were all abandoned to make way for young guns. Goal attack/wing attack, 22 years old Georgie Horjus has been selected for her first ever match squad and is in contention for her debut after playing once again for the Adelaide Thunderbirds during the Super Netball season.

In defense, Rudi Ellis (two caps) and Matilda Garrett (five caps) got the nod on defense. Australians struggled to stop Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke and to stop the midfield kiwis from abruptly feeding on her. They will have to limit Nweke’s abilities if they hope to win tonight.

It’s crisis time!

Hello, welcome to ABC Sport’s coverage of the Constellation Cup, where the Silver Ferns took a 2-0 series lead.

The competition now moves to Australia with tonight’s match to be played in Perth and another to follow on Wednesday in Melbourne. This is a must-win netball match for the Diamonds if they hope to retain the coveted trophy.

We’ll keep you up to date with all the action from Game 3 on our live blog, along with team news and analysis. Follow us and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.