Tamsin Greenway, Pamela Cookey and Karen Greig preview the Quad Series
Tuesday 7 February 2017 09:32, UK
All you need to know ahead of the Quad Series as the tournament reaches it's conclusion on Sunday at Wembley's SSE Arena.
After two rounds of matches it is Australia who are in the box seat to claim a second successive event having won the inaugural Quad Series before Christmas.
Before the tournament we asked three former England internationals to debate the key questions as Tracey Neville's squad look to bounce back from a series defeat to Jamaica last time out.
Manchester Thunder head coach Karen Greig, Wasps Director of Netball Tamsin Greenway and Severn Stars Director of Netball Pamela Cookey give us the inside track.
What will England and Tracey Neville have learned from the series defeat to Jamaica?
Tamsin - It was disappointing because they'd wanted a 3-0 victory in that test series, so to come away without even a 2-1 was difficult for them.
It's always tough when you are playing the top teams in the world, because you go so long without getting a shot at them, so you don't get many opportunities to play against those kinds of squads.
They've got to start looking at how they're going to turn over more ball - against Jamaica in that last test series it was really difficult for them to get a hand on the ball, and the shooting end and shooting combination. That brand new shooting combination, which is missing Jo Harten, is huge - so how can they get that circle operating?
The best thing is to get out there and play. As I say, the difficulty will be those brand new changes - our shooting end looks very, very different to what we had against Jamaica, so it's almost like a fresh mindset for them - they've got nothing to lose.
For Tracey - it's a bit of a jigsaw. She's got to look at it and go 'Right, this didn't work against Jamaica - I've got some fresh players in there - what am I going to do with these guys?', but trying to keep some consistency along the line, because, at some point, those other players will be back.
Karen - There will be lots learned from it as there were new combinations being tried out on court and Tracey will have taken lots of positives.
She won't be too happy with how they finished in Coventry, they didn't really show what they could do and they just imploded in the final quarter.
We will be looking to take South Africa, and we have to take them to show where we are at this moment in time. We have to put out good and consistent performances against Australia and New Zealand. Tracey will try new combinations and see what works but it will be consistency and getting the simple stuff right.
Pamela - I think she has learnt about the psychology of the team, how they operate and what makes them perform well. We saw them come out and catch Jamaica off guard in the Second Test, but then in the last Test it didn't really fit together.
Tracey will need to work out what makes the team gel and it's another new team. They've had a lot of time together and now the question will be can they perform together.
You never go on the court expecting not to win a game but it is a tough ask for England. After the series against Jamaica and the last Quad Series, they are coming in off quite a few losses which will play on their mind but if they can get a good win against South Africa they go into the next two games with nothing to lose.
What do you make of the Roses squad?
Tamsin - This Quad Series is going to be very different, because the squad's changed a lot from the Jamaica games, and it's going to be interesting to see how the other players can slot in.
Some of those guys weren't on court against Jamaica, so it's going to have been hard for Tracey to get all those new players in and trying to work on stuff that didn't quite work for them against Jamaica.
It's all coach preferences. Sometimes decisions are taken out of your hands - you have injuries, you have lack of form. I think it’s difficult when coaches are presented with unavailability, when players have gone over to the other side of the world to start pre-season with their clubs.
I personally like to have a set squad - I know who I’m dealing with and I like to have key players in key positions, but Tracey’s not afraid to mix and match the team around.
At some point, as I keep saying, there are certain positions which need to be cemented, so it’ll be interesting to see how the new players - the likes of Chelsea Locke - come in. Having Geva Mentor back is huge, but like I say there are some huge names missing, too.
Karen - It's great that we have a different squad for the Series, but there is disappointment that some of the players haven't put themselves up for selection - but it does give chances to those on the fringes of the squad to show what they can do.
And the more players we have playing at that level and showing their capabilities will give England Netball a better place to stand in the future.
If you have a squad of seven, eight or nine players fighting for the starting seven positions then players can get complacent. But if they know they every match they are out on the court they have one or two other players vying for their position, they can only be healthy competition within the squad and raise the level to challenge the top two teams.
Pamela - The Commonwealths are going to come around quickly and players are going to want some consistency. But Tracey will see it as a chance to blood new talent although, on the other hand, there is not a lot of chance to get some court time against the top nations.
Helen Housby is back in the shooting end so she will be working with Kadeen with Jo Harten not in the squad. Helen will now have to be the experience and it will be good to see how the two of them work together.
Jade Clarke in the centre and as vice captain is important. Her experience and the vibe she gives off to the team is crucial and she will again be key to the team.
And what of their opponents?
Pamela - You are playing against the best teams and players in the world and you want to be the best in the world.
When you play Australia, they just have the mindset that they have in every sport - they think they are going to win and they know they are good.
History tells you they are up there in those top one or two spots in the world rankings - and having that in your back pocket is always a boost to your confidence.
New Zealand are always up there and they are always capable of pulling out stand-out performances.
Tamsin - You look at the Australia squad, and they've been able to draft in some of their bench players with all their younger players, but they're No 1 in the world, so for them it's not such a big deal.
It's frustrating to not have that consistency - they're missing some world class players. Look at some of the squads they're facing - having those would help them hugely.
The way the fixtures have landed for us is actually playing into our favour. I think playing South Africa first is a good build up for us, because it is a brand new team.
It's tough being out there against a South African side, but I think it's a great start for us, and it'll hopefully give us some confidence to build through the series, because it is going to be a tough series.
Karen - They are always tough games, I got my first cap against New Zealand and it was a baptism of fire. They are such a tight-knit team, they have lots of self belief.
They are strong, powerful athletes and they are a good team across all seven positions and every single player they have specialises in the position that they play - when that gels, it is always going to be a winning formula.
What are you expecting from the Series?
Tamsin - It's tough. It's an amazing opportunity. What is great over the last few years is that there's been less of a fear factor. When we first started twelve years ago it was 'oh God - we're playing Australia and New Zealand'.
Now we've beaten them, we know we can compete with them, which is great news, but it's about those players now shining in this series, and that's all I'd say: you leave nothing behind on there - it is just netball at the end of the day. We are as fit, we are as strong, and we are as skillful - it's now about the tactics and those players taking centre stage and shining.
Karen - No game against New Zealand or Australia is ever easy, the intensity and the physical presence is always up there and the skill levels are phenomenal.
The players will be in for a tough few weeks and Tracey is well aware of what each of the opponents will throw out onto the court. But if the players stick to the tactics that Tracey is asking them to do, the results will hopefully take care of themselves.
Pamela - The travel will be tough as it's tough enough normally when you only have one or two days between matches, so to add in a nine-hour flight is added pressure but it is the same for all the teams.
There is no time difference so there shouldn't be any jet lag and I am sure the teams will have prepared.
And finally a prediction......
Tamsin - Australia will be tough to beat. They've brought a younger side, some fresh faces in there. It will depend whether or not they're complacent, but they will be - as they always are - so tough to beat.
Pamela - I think Australia will take it as they are the more consistent team. Everyone is in a transitional phase including Australia who are resting a few players, but they always seem to be the most drilled team.
Karen - I actually think New Zealand might take it. They have got a really good squad that they are putting out there and it wouldn't surprise me if they push Australia all the way.
Follow the conclusion of the Quad Series live on Sky Sports Mix on Sunday when England face Australia from 1pm with South Africa and New Zealand from 3.15pm
