The Constellation Cup series crosses from the other side of the Tasman, and we can only hope that NZ rookie Courtney Tairi doesn’t turn out to be a pivotal figure in these games. No knock on Tairi, a promising, young mid-courter – it’s just that, in the present state that Australia’s sporting self-esteem is in, we might turn rather viciously on the Sydney-raised Tairi killing it for the old rivals. As she explains it, rather reasonably: “I grew up in a Kiwi household always supporting Kiwi teams.” For their part, the now Laura Geitz-led Aussies have something of an inexperienced group for this series, with the Diamonds vs Silver Ferns Tests in Adelaide (Oct 4), Melbourne (Oct 7) and Canberra (Oct 13). Nothing but net on SBS and Fox Sports.