Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua beamed with pride as she reflected on her side's gutsy World Cup semi-final triumph over hosts England on Sunday morning (NZ time).
New Zealand battled back from a three-goal halftime deficit to edge the Commonwealth champions 47-45 to book a spot in Monday morning's final against Australia, who beat South Africa in the first semi-final.
Although a rematch against the defending champions awaits, Taurua allowed herself a moment to savour a victory that is the most emphatic indication yet of the progress her side has made since she took over after the lows of their Commonwealth Games capitulation on the Gold Coast.
"It feels amazing and it has been a long time coming," Taurua told Newshub. "We feel like we've already won to some degree because we've come from down the other end of the table but also, this is massive for us.
"We are definitely going to celebrate. Not in a frivolous way, probably just a bit of coffee and cake, but we've got to live the moment.
"It's massive for us, our netball community, us as Silver Ferns, and Netball NZ, that we're currently in contention for a gold medal, so we've just got to ride the wave."
The Ferns were narrowly defeated against Australia during pool play, where just a solitary goal separated the teams. But Taurua believes the Ferns lifted to the kind of level against the English which could spell danger for the Diamonds.
"We played zone, we played war, we stuck to our true identity of how we play our game at home... the good thing is [Australia] don't know that - they haven't tasted it because we didn't do it against them.
"Things happen for a reason, so I can't wait to play them tomorrow."
It was a physical encounter in Liverpool as the New Zealanders battled both the hosts and a vocal partisan crowd down to the wire. Ultimately, the poise shown inside the circle from shooters Maria Folau and Ameliaranne Ekenasio saw the New Zealanders over the line, after they'd turned the tide in a definitive third-quarter effort.
"It was a rollercoaster," said veteran Casey Kopua. "Up and down, but it was a great one to ride. Mentally, physically, emotionally - everything needed to be put out there."
Kopua was a commanding presence defensively, and immediately post-match was still struggling to come to terms with her impending berth in the sport's biggest showpiece after her decision to come out of retirement.
"There was pressure from ourselves," said Kopua."The expectations of us and where we wanted to go.
"The hard work that's gone in there for us to get to this - from the sideline, to our team, to families, to the support from everything, is paying off. And it makes a real big difference when you see your family and all that support there with you."
Newshub.
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