Yes. English chokers will spare blushes
Of course New Zealand are going to win a Commonwealth Games netball medal. Not through their own good deeds, admittedly, more because England can always be relied upon to choke.
If we agree that only Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica are any good, then the medal’s a done deal. England, just like they did in Glasgow four years ago, will bottle it and the Silver Ferns will end up with some face-saving neckwear.
The Roses ought to have won gold or silver in Glasgow. They had Australia beaten in pool play, only to lose 49-48, before some late Maria Folau heroics saw New Zealand beat them 35-34 in the semifinals.
By the time England went down 52-48 to Jamaica in the playoff for third and fourth, they were a broken side.
There’s little to suggest things will be significantly different this time around. Geva Mentor, Ama Agbeze and Eboni Beckford-Chambers are all able and accomplished defenders.
But they’re also rather aged. That’s not to say they can’t still play, just that their best days could be behind them.
The same applies to Jade Clarke in the midcourt. Around Clarke, Serena Guthrie and Chelsea Pitman are still elite players at the peak of their game, but overall there’s a slightly stale look about things.
Then you’ve got Jo Harten and Helen Housby at the shooting end. No-one denies their talent but, when the ball absolutely has to go in the hoop, they’re maybe not the women you want.
Jamaica are hardly the most reliable or complete team themselves and any injury, or dip in form, for goal shoot Jhaniele Fowler-Reid would put paid to their medal hopes.
Not that the Silver Ferns have a huge amount to recommend either. This is a poor squad, who’ve obviously been poorly coached.
Bringing in ex-head coach Waimarama Taumaunu, along with former midcourters Sandra Edge and Lyn Gunson, to work with the players in recent times is hardly a ringing endorsement of incumbent Janine Southby. Nor is Southby’s record of 17 wins from 32 starts. You don’t want to round on the players particularly, but a few are lucky to be there. There seems to have been a last-minute element to the selections too, which means rock-solid combinations are scant.
That doesn’t help when situations become a bit desperate.
What the Silver Ferns do have, though, is a decent defender in Katrina Grant. Wing defence Claire Kersten is a late addition, but deserves to play significant minutes, and Sam Sinclair is an impressive player too.
The best combination the team have is between wing attack Grace Kara and shooters Maria Folau and Bailey Mes.
The bigger the occasion, the better Folau fares, and if England can do their familiar disappearing act, then a medal is assured.
Fingers crossed.