Final thoughts
So, Australia are crowned world champions for the third successive time, and an 11th time overall after was a fittingly thrilling finale to what has been a wonderful tournament in Sydney. New Zealand will be left to wonder what might have been had they started with the same intensity with which they finished the game, but Australia should be lauded for the ruthless way in which they took advantage of the Silver Ferns’ slow start. The Diamonds, bolstered by Laura Geitz at the back and led by Caitlin Bassett up front, are deserved winners and can rightfully claim to be the best side in the world. Thanks for joining me today, until next time.
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Off head the Silver Ferns, looking dejected to a player, as the Diamonds are left to lap up the adulation of the crowd. There are whoops, screams, tears, hugs, handshakes, high-fives and noise, lots of noise. A baby makes an appearance, pom-poms and flags are waved in the stands and Julie Corletto breaks down (it being her final appearance).
Captain Laura Geitz says: “So many bloody emotions... it’s bloody sensational.”
Netball, bloody hell.
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Full-time: Diamonds win by three
Australia 58-55 New Zealand
No, there is to be no late drama and the Diamonds hold on to win the World Cup! Cue wild celebrations on the court, on the sidelines and in the stands! A brilliant performance by Australia and a deserved victory. Simple as that. The Ferns will rue their first quarter performance, from which they were never allowed to recover, but they more than contributed to a thrilling final and should be commended for that.
Australia 58-55 New Zealand (fourth quarter - 0:15 remaining)
Wait! It’s down to three goals as Tutaia again finds the mark! Surely there’s not a final, huge, twist in this one?
Australia 56-51New Zealand (fourth quarter - 2:42remaining)
They’ve threatened, but the Ferns just haven’t been allowed to get closer than four goals tonight. The Diamonds’ opening quarter performance should prove to be the difference today, short of an incredible late turnaround now.
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Australia 54-47 New Zealand (fourth quarter - 4:58 remaining)
Tutaia has been so impressive for the Ferns today, but Bassett at the other end has been equally, if not more, impressive. And now I’ve said that, Tutaia only goes and misses two on the trot. Whatever, she can be immensely proud of her performance tonight.
Australia 52-44 New Zealand (fourth quarter - 7:51 remaining)
The commentators suggest that all Australia have to do is run the clock down, but surely they’re going to keep pushing for the final 10 minutes or so? The next minute or two provides an indication of how things are going to pan out: the Diamonds are not letting up. Not. One. Bit.
Australia 45-40 New Zealand (fourth quarter - 13:00 remaining)
As things approach squeaky-bum time, Australia have still got that five-goal cushion with New Zealand having been unable to get much closer all game long. Increasingly, it’s looking like it’s going to take something of a meltdown from the Diamonds now for the Ferns to claim victory.
Three-quarter time: Diamonds lead by six
Australia 43-37 New Zealand
The Ferns come to within four on a couple of occasions as the third quarter nears completion, but Bassett’s deadly touch at the other end keeps the Diamonds out in front. Still, with just six points in it heading into the final 15 minutes, anything is possible.
Australia’s shooting remains, frankly, brilliant at 96%, with 43/45 while the Ferns are hanging in there with 37/52 at 71%.
Erin’s been quiet for a while, perhaps silenced by the 16,000 or so fans in the arena, but here she is now with an update:
Every time Laura Geitz goes near the ball the crowd loses it’s collective mind. They might need a new roof on Allphones.
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Australia 40-35 New Zealand (third quarter - 2:36 remaining)
Tutaia lands another goal and when Bassett steps out of the court, reaching for a pass at the other end of the court, New Zealand have a chance to bring the difference back down to five. Tutaia is on target and the Ferns are within striking distance!
Australia 40-31 New Zealand (third quarter - 5:28 remaining)
It’s all getting a bit tense out there, but Bassett does what she does best – scoring goals, two of them – to open up a nine-goal deficit and go some way to calming Aussie nerves.
Australia 36-30 New Zealand (third quarter - 8:24 remaining)
Livin’ on a Prayer blasts out over the tannoy during a break in play – rather cheekily put on the playlist by the (presumably) Australian DJ...
But the Ferns may yet have the last laugh, having pulled back to within six goals. Do we have a grandstand finish on our hands here?
Australia 36-28 New Zealand (third quarter - 10:09 remaining)
The pressure is on New Zealand – they simply cannot afford to allow their level to drop, not one bit. If they do so, the Diamonds have it in them to run away with this one.
It’s six-all so far this quarter, and Australia are doing all they need to do to hold off the Ferns so far. Another 25 minutes or so of that, and the Diamonds will be crowned world champions.
Australia 30-22 New Zealand (third quarter - 15:00 remaining)
Back under way and New Zealand have made a change, with the experienced De Bruin coming on at GD – for her 100th cap. For Australia, it’s as you were, understandably so if you subscribe to the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ school of thought.
Half-time: Diamonds lead by eight
Australia 30-22 New Zealand
Tutaia sinks another one from distance, the ball falling through the net with a beautiful swoosh, and with that we’re at the halfway point of the 2015 World Cup final. Australia are still in control, but the Ferns are not out of this one yet. An exciting second half is in the pipeline.
The half-time stats read like this: Australia are shooting at 94% with 30/32 while the Ferns have improved to 71%, at 22/31. So a much better second quarter there from New Zealand, and that’s why there’s still interest in the contest.
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Australia 27-19 New Zealand (second quarter - 2:44 remaining)
Bassett again. She’s such a physical presence on the court, and she’s got the measure of her marker Kopua at the moment. With the lead at 10 goals, you feel New Zealand have a monumental task on their hands now. Still, they’re not going to bow out without a fight, that spirit epitomised by Mes and then Tutaia, who both score to keep the Ferns within reach.
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Australia 23-13 New Zealand (second quarter - 7:02 remaining)
Well, after that initial wobble at the beginning of this quarter, the Diamonds have managed to settle and are back in their groove. Bassett is looking good at GS and mostly thanks to her accuracy, there’s now a 10-goal deficit.
Australia 19-10 New Zealand (second quarter - 9:39 remaining)
News just in: it is indeed another world record crowd – 16,752 are packed into Allphones Arena for today’s match.
A mistake from Tutaia gives Australia a bit of breathing space and Bassett takes full advantage, scoring two to build up a lead of nine again.
Australia 17-10 New Zealand (second quarter - 12:36 remaining)
Tutaia gets the Silver Ferns off to a good start in the second quarter, sinking a long-range goal after some nifty New Zealand passing that momentarily exposes the Diamonds defence. Two more goals, sandwiching a turnover, later, and the Ferns are riding a small wave of momentum now.
Quarter-time: Diamonds lead by nine
Australia 16-7 New Zealand
And that brings to a close a hectic opening quarter, which the Diamonds have bossed to be honest. Geitz is leading from the back, while their shooting at the other end has been impeccable - 16/16 at 100% in the first 15 minutes of play. And with the Ferns managing just 50%, the story so far is clear to see.
Australia 16-7 New Zealand (first quarter - 1:45 remaining)
A brilliant quick passing interchange by the Diamonds doesn’t come off this time, but the home side are in control here, buoyed by the this boisterous crowd. Geitz again makes a play under the Australian goal and after another goal at the other end, the lead is nine now.
Australia 11-6 New Zealand (first quarter - 5:15 remaining)
Laura Geitz has started brilliantly for the Diamonds, putting in a real captain’s performance so far. Erin agrees:
Geitz is the captain for a reason. She’s means business today. She was stung by the earlier loss to NZ.
Indeed, this is what Geitz had to say before the final:
The fact that they do have a very different line-up to what we’re used to did throw us a little bit. We weren’t super proud of that performance.
Australia 9-4 New Zealand (first quarter - 8:01 remaining)
Tutaia is still in the thick of things as she piles in with a somewhat over-zealous challenge. She holds her hand up in apology, but no one’s injured and we’re good to carry on.
Every single attack or defensive manoeuvre – at both ends – is being met with a wall of screams from the stands so far. This really is quite intense, but it’s the Diamonds who have started the better of the two sides. They lead by four goals early on. No, hang on, make that five as New Zealand captain Kopua calls an injury time out.
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Australia 5-3 New Zealand (first quarter - 11:24 remaining)
Almost inevitably Maria Tutaia nails the first goal. Australia are quick to respond at the other end, but much of the Silver Ferns’ hopes today rest on the Kiwi star’s shoulders.
Meanwhile, Erin has this from inside the stadium:
England coach Tracey Neville is in the crowd, mingling with England supporters. Many hugs, a touching moment out of the spotlight.
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First quarter: Australia 0-0 New Zealand
Here we go then! Both teams break from their huddles and we’re 60 minutes away (possibly more) from knowing whose name will be etched onto the World Cup trophy.
The players are introduced to a cacophony of noise, and it seems the battle has already commenced, with both sets of fans intent on making more noise than their opposite numbers. Not sure who the winner is of that particular tussle – but for sure the Kiwis are hardly the ‘away’ team.
There’s a tremendous noise in the arena – you don’t need to be there to realise that – and the pictures alone tell a story with the majority of the crowd wearing green and gold or silver wigs. The atmosphere is certainly translating well to the telly.
The Diamonds are looking sharp in the warm-up, Erin reliably informs us, although the Silver Ferns appear slightly more relaxed. Not long until we get going now, with the excitement building in the stands, where fans are looking as colourful as they have throughout the tournament.
Here we go. @netballworldcup FINAL! Crowd is going mental already. Cmon the @AussieDiamonds !!! #NetballWorldCup pic.twitter.com/cL9mtP7HOb
— Trent Copeland (@copes9) August 16, 2015
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More from Erin:
Land Under blasts out as the Aussies enter the arena and walk to the visitors’ bench. But NZ actually get louder reception as they walk to what should be Aus bench.
New Zealand make the toss, Geitz calls but loses. The Silver Ferns will take centre, with the Diamonds playing towards the Sydney Harbour end. You can’t see the harbour, obviously, but it’s in that general direction. We’ll be under way soon enough.
Erin Delahunty has been and continues to be the Guardian’s eyes and ears on the ground at Allphones Arena. She’s just checked in with this:
The crowd is building and the arena is nearly at capacity. After breaking the world record for the biggest crowd at a netball game earlier in the tournament, the bar was again raised last night, with a total of 16,266. There are plenty of people outside the arena looking to buy tickets today.
And another new record is expected to be set today, with the arena sold out. Good luck to those who are still trying to find tickets!
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Today's line-ups
The starting teams are in. Here’s how they’ll line up today, both as expected really:
Australia: GS: C.Bassett GA: N.Medhurst WA: K. Green C: K.Ravaillion WD: R.Hallinan GD: J.Corletto GK: L.Geitz
New Zealand: GS: B.Mes GA: M.Tutaia WA: G.Rasmussen C: L.Langman WD: K.Cullen GD: K.Grant GK: C.Kopua
Back to the gold medal match and a close encounter of the netball kind is expected today, raising the burning question of what happens if the scores are tied at full-time. Well, if that is the case, a two minute break will be taken, during which teams can make changes, before two seven-minute halves of extra-time will be played (with a one-minute break in the middle). If still nothing can separate the teams after that, play will continue without break until one team opens up a two-goal advantage. Once they do, we’ll have a winner.
England claim bronze medal
Just a little while earlier, Tracey Neville’s England team claimed third place with a fantastic display in the bronze medal match against Jamaica, running out 66-44 winners. There are tears in the eyes of fans in the crowd and coach Neville shares a number of emotional embraces on the touchlines! If anyone deserves some success at this championship, it’s her – quite how she managed to battle on through after the tragedy she suffered last week is anyone’s guess. Congratulations to the Roses, who are worthy medallists after a tournament in which they did much to suggest that the rest of the world is catching up to Australia and New Zealand.
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Preamble
Well, it’s the script most everyone expected, but that shouldn’t take away from either Australia or New Zealand’s achievements in winning through to a fourth consecutive trans-Tasman World Cup final.
New Zealand won the bragging rights with a surprise victory during the group stages – was that a false dawn or will it give the Silver Ferns the self-belief to go one better this time round?
Whatever confidence that victory instilled in the Silver Ferns, it also served as something of a wake-up call for the Diamonds and reminded them, and the rest of the world, that they are indeed human. Since that defeat though, they have been – ominously for New Zealand – imperious.
Anyway, we’re set for an intriguing afternoon of entertainment at Allphones Arena out at Olympic Park in Sydney. It’s a huge game, even if Diamonds’ captain Laura Geitz refuses to believe the hype:
I don’t think we’re thinking of it as such a massive game. It’s just another game and about what we would do for any other game of this competition.
The netball court’s the same size, we know how to play netball, we’re not going to try and come out and do anything different to what we’ve done this week, apart from maybe putting out more consistent netball. That’s the approach we’ll take.
Geitz did single out Silver Ferns shooter Maria Tutaia as one to watch, hinting at how the team would prepare against her.
Maria’s obviously very, very confident at the moment. She’s needs a different sort of game plan to most attackers, who want to push away from the post. With her, you actually want to push her close the post. That’s what tonight will be dedicated to, going over [the video]. Obviously we’ve seen them in bits and pieces but tonight we’ll be observing them very, very closely.
We’re due to start at 3:20pm local time. Please do feel free to get in touch with any thoughts/opinions/analysis before then, or during the course of the match. You can hit me up on Twitter or on the email address above – would be great to hear from you.
Mike will be here shortly; in the meantime, have a quick recap of how the Diamonds booked their place in this afternoon’s final with victory over Jamaica.
