Netball Quad Series: Tamsin Greenway talks titles, schedules and selections
Tamsin Greenway says "the coaches have to earn their money this week"; watch live on Saturday from 4.15pm on Sky Sports Arena or Mix
Saturday 19 January 2019 18:45, UK
With the 2019 Netball Quad Series concluding this weekend, Sky Sports expert Tamsin Greenway looks at the some of the key talking points including the importance of a Quad Series victory to Netball World Cup preparations, team selections and going back-to-back.
This weekend, four matches of the highest order will be played out at London's Copper Box Arena and on Sunday night, one side will finish as Quad Series champions.
Since the competition's inception, Australia's hold has been a strong one having won four out of the five series and if Saturday follows the form book, then a decider will play out between the Australian Diamonds and England's Vitality Roses on Sunday night, live on Sky Sports Mix and Arena.
The question is, just how important would a series victory be for either side leading towards July's World Cup?
"I think it's really big. The coaches will all play it down and the players will all play it down, but, the reality is this that is the last time that these teams are going face each other before the World Cup," said Greenway to Sky Sports.
"Whoever wins this Quad Series is going to have a bit of bragging rights and confidence.
"England have never won a Quad Series since it started in 2016, the highest they've ever finished is second so for them to come out on a high and to actually have taken Australia and walk away saying, 'Yes we can do it and it wasn't just a one-goal lucky thing at Commonwealth Games, we're actually playing better than them', and they are. I think it would be huge - especially for England.
"I think for Australia they'll want to win it because they need to get their confidence back a little bit as well," added Greenway.
"Looking at the Australia side, and I've been quite vocal about them not having Caitlin Bassett which I know that hasn't gone down too well with the Australians. But the reality is, they are playing with their second-string shooter and for me that means a must-win for England."
Of course both have matches to play before they meet, the Roses against South Africa and the Diamonds against New Zealand, and Greenway notes that the schedule of going back-to-back shouldn't faze the players.
"This is what we do at a World Cup and at the Commonwealth Games - you only ever have the gap really after the quarter-final stage. It's not uncommon for players that they'll be playing game in, game out.
"I actually think that it's great preparation for the World Cup as well because you're going to have two hard fixtures."
With such a schedule in place, there's a balancing act that must be navigated by the head coaches and (as usual) a significant amount of pressure falls on their shoulders.
All four must select to win game one, but, must also have the second match in their sights in order to be ready to hit Sunday at full pelt too.
"For me, for the coaches, it's difficult [back-to-back matches] especially when you're playing against two completely different styles," said Greenway.
"It's about how you [as a coach] get your tactics right, whether you've got the right combinations and whether you've done the prep work. The coaches have to earn their money this week, this is where it's all tactical now and about their combinations."
England's first encounter sees them facing the SPAR Proteas and the Roses need to remain focused if they're to play their part in setting up that competition decider.
"South Africa have been a bit of England's bogey team for the last few years. England have lost to them in the Quad Series [September 2017] and you can't take them for granted."
"I think England need to make a couple of changes in their line-up but I wouldn't go crazy - I'd just make a couple. You'd hope that they'd do that just to keep some consistency so that they get off to a good start and then bring players on as it goes along."
Greenway also notes that at some point during the hour Tracey Neville may well want to give the starting seven that she'll select to face Australia on Sunday a runout. Why? Well, because players need to be prepped and ready and won't necessarily want a full day off before such an intense match.
Turning attentions onto the earlier Saturday fixture - the Australian Diamonds meeting New Zealand - Greenway notes that consistency will be the Silver Ferns' key.
"I think for New Zealand you may not see as many changes, I think Noeline Taurua will be more confident in the combinations that work and that don't.
"I think they'll have done a lot of work this week, you can't ever doubt Noeline, she's a fantastic coach and tactically she'll have done her homework. I think that you'll see probably a more consistent performance from the Silver Ferns across all four quarters."
When it comes to Australia, Greenway believes that Roses fans should keep a close eye on Lisa Alexander's selections for their meeting with New Zealand.
"Keep an eye out on their shooting circle because it's going to give you some clues about who's going to start against England," noted Greenway.
"I think that's going to be their key area, they're going to have to get that right against England. Do they start with Caitlin Thwaites and Gretel Tippett again? They're going to have to start with a different mid-court if they do that.
So what about the home side? Does Greenway believe that a first Quad Series victory is attainable? Her thoughts are clear on this one...
"I truly believe they will win back-to-back. I've never seen the squad looking so happy and so confident in all the years I've been involved in it and looking from the outside.
"They just look like the best team in the world at the moment. I really hope that they take that into the game on Sunday because they should win this."
The Netball Quad Series continues with action from the Copper Box Arena on both Saturday and Sunday - join us for both sessions on Sky Sports Mix and Arena, starting on Saturday from 4.15pm
