1. Honesty call, did you see that coming?
DJ: You could say I was a little surprised. This Silver Ferns group has always had a lot of potential, but I didn't expect they could pull off that sort of performance so early in their development. To produce such a confident and assured performance against Australia - a side they haven't beaten in two years - after just one month together is a stunning result.
RS: Not even remotely. I thought NZ were tracking along well enough, but there was no real way of knowing just how far they'd had come... and, even if they'd taken a big leap, Australia were a long way ahead this time last year. The sense of validation for the Ferns must be huge - not just the squad selection, but also the style of play and the options they have. The confidence boost can't be underestimated, but as Wai Taumaunu said " One game doesn't make it a trend".
2. Who was the stand-out performer for you? You can only pick one.
DJ: Ooohh it's really hard. They were all bloody impressive, but the Ferns' warrior at back, Casey Kopua, gets my vote. Kopua didn't have a good start to the tournament as she continues to get her timing and confidence back after that horror knee injury last year. But just when doubts were beginning to creep in about her readiness for the tournament, she produces an outstanding defensive performance. The crafty Kopua did an impressive job of containing Australian supershooter Caitlin Bassett, setting the platform for the win.