Silver Ferns

The Ferns launched the post Maria Folau era in style, beginning the Nations Cup with a comfortable 64-48 victory over England in Nottingham on Monday (NZ time).

New Zealand were missing 562 caps from their World Cup winning side, who tasted glory in Liverpool last July, with Folau and Casey Kopua both retired and usual captain Laura Langman and Katrina Rore rested for this series. 

Noeline Taurua's side produced an encouraging start to 2020 and the new World Cup cycle with Maia Wilson, who started in Folau's vacant goal shoot bib, shining in a rare start. 

Ekenasio - New Zealand's best player in their 2019 Netball World Cup win - will be joined by vice captains Jane Watson and Gina Crampton in a new-look leadership group the tournament which starts on Monday (NZ time).

The Silver Ferns once again used their team voting system which included all players, management, Netball NZ's chief executive and the head of high performance.

Head coach Noeline Taurua said they had taken an in-depth approach that took into consideration performance, relationships, communication styles, and personal characteristics.

The Silver Fern icon has retired from all netball, playing her final test series during October's Constellation Cup.

She signs off on an incredible career with 150 Test caps, a Netball World Cup gold medal , two Commonwealth Games gold medals, a Netball World Youth Cup gold medal and a large following who have admired Folau's trademark long-range shooting for well over a decade.

Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua said Folau would go down in history as one of New Zealand's Netball greats of the game.

New Zealand lead the best-of-four Constellation Cup against the Diamonds 2-1, with Sunday's clash in Perth to decide the winner.

The Silver Ferns beat Australia by a goal at the World Cup in July, and have twice beaten the Diamonds by the same margin during the current four-match series.

But Taurua just has to take one look at her country's poor Constellation Cup history to know her team has some way to go before it can be considered the best in the world.

New Zealand have won the series just once in nine attempts since its inception in 2010.

Lisa Alexander's team lifted for the master coach in her 100th Test, levelling the four match series at 1-1.

Gretel Tippett (23/24) was supreme under the ring, ably assisted by captain Caitlin Bassett (17/20) and Tegan Philip (8/9).

But this was a win masterminded by the back.

Goal keeper Courtney Bruce subdued the Maria Folau-led Silver Ferns attack with an intensity that lifted the whole Diamonds side.

The four-Test series now heads to Sydney and Perth, where wins would allow Australia to retain the trans-Tasman trophy for the seventh-straight time.

Defender Michaela Sokolich-Beatson comes in for Casey Kopua who announced her retirement at the end of the Netball World Cup in July.

Taurua has also added shooter Maia Wilson into the mix for the Cadbury Netball Series (Australian leg only) which starts in Christchurch on 13 October.

Sokolich-Beatson made her debut for the Ferns last year and has 11 Test caps.

The Northern Mystics defender went over to Liverpool as injury cover for Katrina Rore, but wasn't needed in the end.

Wilson made her debut in 2016 and has 10 Test caps.

On Sunday, Taurua will attempt to guide her Sunshine Coast Lightning to a third straight Super Netball title in her farewell match - against NSW Swifts in the grand final in Brisbane.

Few would bet against it.

Success follows Taurua wherever she goes and her stocks have never been higher after she masterminded New Zealand's turnaround to topple Australia as world champions in July.

A veteran of 34 Tests for New Zealand, until a knee injury ended her playing days in 1999, Taurua found her calling in coaching.

There was no prizemoney for the side's one point win over Australia in Liverpool on Monday but Sky Television, along with ANZ, MYOB and Puma, will make a financial contribution to ensure the side is remunerated.

Each player will get $25,000.

Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie said it was a great feeling to be able to reward players for their extraordinary efforts in lifting the trophy for the first time in 16 years.

The All Blacks arrived back from Argentina in time to see the end of the netball final against Australia.

Hansen says they were all genuinely excited and proud of what the Ferns achieved and in particular the journey coach Noeline Taurua has taken.

Folau helped lead the Silver Ferns to their first Netball World Cup title since 2003, landing 28 goals from 35 attempts in their 52-51 upset final win over Australia in Liverpool on Sunday (Monday NZ time).

It had been a long time coming for the 32-year-old, who along with Ferns' veterans Laura Langman and the retiring Casey Kopua, lost World Cup finals to Australia in 2007, 2011, and 2015.

Watching Folau effortlessly sink her trademark long range bombs during the World Cup, you wouldn't have known the challenges she's faced in her personal life in recent months.