EDITORIAL: Triumph in netball outshines All Blacks

HIGH sporting drama in Sydney with New Zealand taking down the Aussies in their own backyard.

A sensational result; another triumph for New Zealand over their transtasman rivals.

No, I haven't got the scores muddled ... I am, of course, talking about the Silver Ferns' remarkable netball victory over Australia rather than the All Blacks' painful loss to the Wallabies.

Just 24 hours and a few kilometres apart, the girls restored national sporting pride in emphatic fashion. After what used to be New Zealand's finest crumbled 27-19 at ANZ Stadium before 73,000 fans, our new finest shot down the Aussie Diamonds 52-47 at Sydney's Allphones Arena with a world record 24,000 watching.

The Silver Ferns were very much underdogs in their Netball World Cup pool match; the All Blacks went into the Rugby Championship showdown as favourites.

The Ferns were playing on the back of a nine-game losing streak to Australia; the ABs had not lost to the Aussies for four years.

Our netball line-up was full of untested fresh blood; the rugby team stacked with proven talent and experience.

Such are the wonderful vagaries of sporting contest. The established order can be undone in a flash of brilliance; the applecart overturned by that extra bead of perspiration.

Both teams are in World Cup competition this year. The Silver Ferns surely only have to repeat what they did on Sunday and beat Australia again to claim the glory; the All Blacks face a number of tough games to retain their world champion mantle. Yet you would not bet against the men taking the title and the girls missing out.

After losing a bet on the rugby, John Key had to pose in a Wallabies green-and-gold shirt. So how about a photo of Tony Abbott in a Ferns black dress? Fair's fair.