The Silver Ferns have been on the receiving end of plenty of flak from the Australian media over the bruising way they play the game.
Silver Fern captain Lesley Nicol struck a nerve when she said after the first test that the New Zealand players were "almost too nice" and lacked
a "bit of mongrel" and guts.
It seems the Australian team, media and fans thought the Silver Ferns were already rough enough.
Here is how some of the Australia media saw it.
Yahoo
Aussies brace for more NZ mongrel
"I'd hate to see it when they [New Zealand] do show the mongrel, it was bad enough. I thought there was quite a bit of mongrel last night," Australian coach Norma Plummer said after the first test.
"I think it's unfortunate if that's got to come into it, whatever happened to skill?"
Sun Herald
Golden girls solid as Kiwis bring back biff
"We knew we were going to be hit, so the big thing was to take it, get back up, get on with it and not get frazzled," Australian shooter Catherine Cox said.
Fox Sport
Bring on the bullies
"Our players have been physically prepared for any type of match New Zealand want to play," said Plummer.
"We won't be bullied out of anything."
The Advertiser
Aussies expect another bruising test with tough silver ferns
"It's [the physicality] not too much but I think we can stand up a bit better to their physical style," Australian captain Liz Ellis said.
"This is international netball.
"It's not a ladies' game, it's an athletes' game."
