Off Your Highlights and Key Takeaways

Open up YOUR BOOK OF GREAT SPORTING MOMENTS. England's roses. THEY JUST REWROTE HISTORY AGAIN. This new era Super League has all for the glory AO Manchester Thunder. Your 2026 Neville Super League champions. Welcome to Off the Core. I'm Tamson Greenway, head coach of London Mavericks. And joining me, co-host Tracy Neville, managing director of Stockport County Football's women's team. And Trace, we are here for off the court special. It's the morning after, the night before. And before we start, we have to go straight into previously on off the court. South Africa. What are your thoughts on them so far? I'm mixed about South Africa. Mixed. And I'll tell you why in a minute. Um I at the moment I'm not worried about

South Africa for England. I think spanking against Australia. Um I think it's good. You better learning early and it not be your ultimate match. Now Tracy Neville, you don't often get me in trouble. Lie, but you do. But all week I've been up here since that first podcast went out talking about the sem uh the matchup of England South Africa. The final game in pool A. Winner takes all. Whoever won was going to go on to the semi-final. By the way, semi-finals the only time South Africa have ever made it is in 1998. So this would have been a massive shakeup for the Commonwealth Games. A change in net ball order. And

um you went out and went oh no, South Africa not even problem. Not got a problem with that. And once again, you were right. Do you want to expand before we go into this game? Was that changing room foder? Apparently. So, apparently so. But, but on a serious note, we came at it slightly different ways. We both said England were going to win. Um, different circumstances. Um, I think the spanking against Australia was a real wakeup call for the coaching staff and players. I think from then on I think there was undoubtedly um the England team had got together. I loved like I think I mentioned on the

last pod um how Fran Williams had said it you know about her responsibility and I think she's a key instigator in that ro's team but also um I also look at the coaches and I actually do think that Anna Stebridge has got far more experience in them situations than Jenny Vanwick. So Jenny van Djk, sorry. There you go. All right, please. There you go. Um, so and you know, having watched, you know, I he was one of them. I think the circumstances in January were completely different. Completely different. I think the players were fatigued. I didn't think they have much life, but you know, I just had no doubt. And we said it was the starting seven that was key.

Um, and yeah, I would have gone with um Liv or L. I think they both would have won the game. Um, just a shame that one is a professional benchwarmer now and one is a starting shooter, but I think theoretically I think they both would have won us a game, but I think they were exceptional. Um, and I just thought we were up for it. Even in that first quarter when we went 1610 down, um, I just didn't worry at all. I just didn't worry. Um, we've got players like Fumi who could inject. I thought Addio was exceptional. Um, I think that's what they needed. They needed just someone just to get stuck in and she got thoroughly stuck in, didn't she? So, um, and I know there was a lot of contact

calls from the Australia game. Um, and I don't know what your opinion was, but it didn't really look that bad on television. Um, you were obviously in the stadium, but um, with Aussie umpires on that, they're not going to stand for a lot of that. Yeah. Well, you know what? So, it's funny because I was I put out a poll before the um before the game on my Insta and um it sat and I was like, "England hands, are you happy feeling comfortable?" Basically, are we going to win or not? And uh the nos outweighed the win, outweighed the yeses. Um people genuinely thought we were going to lose and you and I said we weren't. And the thing is, no one has a crystal ball in this game.

No one has a crystal ball. you go on evidence base and when you go on evidence base it always relies on the team playing well right you've got to but they weren't flagging it they had that game where they got hit by a truck by Australia players haven't played for two years against Australia it looked like it the bounce back for me showed everything that you needed to know it wasn't a wo me it wasn't like oh god now we're going to lose it was guys wake up sit up play they smash Malawi they smashed Tonga they set the intent by the time you get to the end of the week in the matchups this is what you were looking at you were looking at an England team that were on the same amount of losses as South Africa but had

a 14 goal better goal difference better than South Africa. They were scoring more goals. You were looking at a team that even though they got pumped by Australia, they still scored the same amount as South Africa against them. They still scored 47 goals each. And you were looking at a team that had matchups, absolute quality matchups, Image and Allison on Kisa Chawwani. That was going to be a matchup you were going to have to stop Kenisa shooting uh feeding. You were looking at matchups down the other end. if Lois played at the top of her game and shot they all shot better than they did in South Africa in January they were going to win their game and that's where that

evidence-based stuff came for me. So by the end of the week you were looking at teams that was going to be close but you felt that we had the edge. Now you talked about the lineup I think um Anna Stebridge did an exceptional job in terms of a who she started but how she changed quickly but not panic changes. It felt like it was two very set combinations. It's interesting because I thought tactically they didn't necessarily need to change it for that to happen because they play very one-on-one to start off with. Fran did a tagging job out and Samani the gold attack. Jada played the one-on-one game on Vanderbar and I'm not sure anyone can play the one-on-one game on Vanderb now. The ball went in fairly easily. Um

once Hi and Fumi came on and Fran out the front, it just meant that there was a bit of extra height on the feed and it also meant that they dropped into the double earlier and they dropped on that positional switch. So you're able to do that and it was classic Hiaddio I mean she had four gains in that game that literally changed the whole momentum and the other thing I was going to say as well and I don't know how you feel about this almost quarter one helped us we went 1711 down after quarter one but there was no panic I was sat right behind the bench it was very clear instruction the camera cut to the bench they were nodding they knew exactly what they want to do and it almost loosened them up it was always like well we got nothing to lose

now we'll just go at them and they started feeding more freely they found live under the post and a shout out to Lois Pearson. 100% 17 from 17 at goal attack. Everything we've been asking her to do. Ah, she was exceptional and we actually said could we clone her? Can we clone her into a couple of positions? Swing a second. Yeah. And I think um the problem in the first quarter was that they were going from the transverse line into circle into Elmer. Um but if you actually look at what um Addio and Fumi do during the year for Pulse, their absolute tactic was to drop back

to circle double on um and the way managed to Thunder beat them was actually for L to break that by coming out because then Fumi had nothing to drop to. The key for me is and we look at this and we talk about the playing in SSN. You know when South Africa were good they had a few players in SSN do you know and that we still go back to that same topic don't we? So El Marray is absolut has been unbelievable for Adelaide Thunderbirds, but you need to get ball supply to her. You need to get experience to her. Um and in the first quarter that was coming, they went straight over the top. But as soon as Fumi went in there and they played the double on that, the goal attack um didn't even answer and I think

that was the weakest spot potentially for me in that team. And also when um Shawi went off that was obviously another um hole in their armor as well. Um, I think the change of Nicholas Smith as well. Um, why would you bring Nicholas Smith off? And even if you, if you're gonna change and make that change, why would you not put her on to, you know, you've got Lois Pearson shooting 17 from 17, why wouldn't you even try in goal defense and get some arms over that shot? You know, get a little bit more pressure on it, you know, not that I think she would have made the difference. Um, but, you know, from my perspective, Nicholas Smith

should have been on there and then she just couldn't get back in the game. She was getting blown out for contact. Um, and then I think Liv did a really great job of playing a prop shooter to, you know, and that's and we said if El Cardwell had been on there, she'd have played that prop shooter and that is something that doesn't work in the favor of Nicholas Smith. So, I think yeah, from my perspective, I think they were just outplayed individually. Yeah, I agree. I think um Liv Sheena ended on 41 out of 43. She looked so calm under the post and they were, you know, and what I loved is when they needed to, they'd put a long ball in, then they'd work it. They'd just open up

the circle. I think we had a double threat at the post. They didn't. You talk about Elray Vanderb like she ended up with 48 goals. Sammy Bwani ended up with six. And that was the issue, wasn't it? When you saw Sophie Forn's breakdown, Hi and Fumi in the final. She gets in there and shoots the goals. Like they didn't want to do that. So it became a problem in that sense. I think the change you talked about when we talk about evidence-based that was interesting because um I was chatting to Sue Gordian on the way back a bit of name drop bumped into her on the way back the night before Australia versus South Africa. Um South Africa obviously lost by 10 goals. They made

the same change. They took Nick Smith off and put on Sam Vissa into goalkeeper and San Marie Vissa and I she's brilliant but she's not a keeper for me. She's a goal defense and South Africa have three exceptional goal defenses in their team. Ptorius Vanvake and Vissa. She goes into goalkeeper. Australia won that quarter 188. Suddenly Sophie Garbin had all the space in the world. Now evidence-based tells you that didn't work. So I thought it was very strange to go there. Now why I mentioned Sue Gordon is because she was doing broadcast and she said at Halime they grabbed Nick Smith for a flash interview

and they said to her what you know why have you come off? They thought she was being managed minutes. They thought it was pre-planned changes. She went I have no idea. I'd have to speak to the coach. So Sue was like, "Oh, hang on." And was straight in there with this cuz she's like, "That's not what you're expecting that answer to be." And in media you love it when they give you an honest answer. And it just seemed very strange. Um, and I don't know, like I get it when you try it once. I'm I was confused to why you'd try it again. I understand in the second quarter England won at 1712, but there was there were lots of other reasons for that as well. and it felt like you almost just needed to settle and give

Nick Smith some information at Halime and go back out. I think in them games and you know we've we've been in them games before Tanzan and they swing they absolutely swing you know momentum shifts and you can't panic like if if anyone was coming out of that game thinking that game was going to get blown out to 20 goals there was absolutely no way that game was going to 20 goals by any team. So when South Africa come out and had a great first quarter and was six up like I didn't even panic because in you know that in reality that's like two intercepts over three quarters. Now I know for a fact we have a team who's going to come out with two to three intercepts. The possession was really key and that's what

let us down in Australia but I've not seen that over the last few days. You know we've we've sorted our combinations out. We've stabilized our team and I think that was really key. Um, and to be honest, um, shout out to, um, Amy Carter. You know, she got brought off. She had to come on, um, for an injury and I thought she was I thought she finished the game exceptional. And you talk about impact players. I think for England, she has been known as an impact center. Um, and to be honest, she started the game obviously. I don't know if I would have brought her off. I don't know. Um, maybe, maybe not. It did impact. the change did impact and I thought it was it you know and then when

she come back on I thought do you know what you've you've you've chilled you played into the game and I thought then she was exceptional I think the turning point for me in that last quarter it felt like nobody was going to turn ball over I don't know how you felt when I was sat there well they didn't know until that was it the last moment when in the last there was the last one and it was very similar in quarter three cuz we should have gone in about seven up but we did one dodgy little pass around the edge and I was going nuts at that point obviously saying very calm and neutral in my announcing role. Um but yeah, we that last quarter went goal for goal. It was a 15 all quarter in the end and I

think it was only like literally the last minute where we did and then Hi went and turned it back over the other end. But it went goal for goal. There was literally no ball one and like England I don't think England needed to turn a ball over. I think they just needed to possess. But from South Africa's point of view, I was sat there at some point going and I think her changes happened too late in that quarter because I was like, you know, if if I were if I was sat there as a coach, I'd be like, we need to change momentum here, you know. Um, and we've all done it. And I think that's the learning and inexperience that we're talking about with the coaching team that I would have gone, right, what

can I change here that will make a difference. Now, Nicholas Smith was being blown out at goalkeeper, I personally thought. So I would have gone right let's just move her out to let's just move her out. Um if you know and then you say they don't have a goalkeeper replacement but even Bissa at the back I'd have moved her out got the arms over see if we could have got lifted ball I don't know I think the changes happened too quick I think they didn't have a response to change um momentum but was that predicted before they went into game? I actually do as well because I think like I say the loss in January I think that was basically fatigue. I don't I actually think we absolutely do that. And then the other

change I thought that South Africa might have done would you have moved Elmare out because you know and then put Rolene on. I don't know like I think there should have been something. Does that make sense? I think there should have been something but and this is where it's really interesting right why I was impressed with England is it felt it had two combinations and that I can cope with. I don't watch the Aussies flit around with like 20 different people in 20 different positions and just changing people and see what happens. I don't. And I have seen that with England over the past and it's drove me insane. I felt like it was a very clear plan. We had this defensive unit, we had this defensive unit, we have this attacking

way, we have that attacking way. Um it was interesting because when you talk about possession, England threw in the first quarter, they threw two straight off the back line. Like really stupid. One off a penalty, one just to no one. I'm like, what are you doing? And then it really calmed down and like you say, we got to that possession point at the end of the game where we felt good. Fran and um Fumi did a shift by the way because we're having to go back a lot. But again, tactically they let us do that. It was very strange that they didn't adjust any of that and they're the things I'm looking for. You let that

happen one quarter, then you change, everyone shifts up, you encourage some long ball, make Liv have to come out the circle, like all things like that were very um very interesting me. I want to pick up on the physicality because I think that's why there wasn't much turnover in the game as well, especially in that last quarter. I'd sat and watched the day before and I'd said to you it was overly physical the Australian South Africa game. Off the ball stuff. You couldn't see it on the telly. Off the ball stuff. It was crazy. It was a level I'd never seen. I've never seen anybody be allowed to go Australia like South Africa did. And it was in the rules of the game. The

umpires let it happen. And so I'm not uh disputing anything. I'm just saying it looked for me like it had gone past the line of contest. Now I that was the only worry I had about if the game was allowed to be played like that because if it was you the Aussies very calm on the bench, weren't rising to it. Weren't like what? You know, they just kept changing the way they were playing and they just kind of got on with it and took the hits. But it did make them clunkier than they usually are. It did mean they only shot 65% of goal attack. it did mean that they weren't winning the ball that they usually win. So, I thought it was quite interesting. The umpires yesterday blew everything and actually it helped both

teams because it just meant them ticking over. It meant that England didn't get a couple of turnovers that were probably ours, but it also meant down the other end we were fine. Um, and that does make a difference internationally like the umpires you get, how people are allowed to play the game, the cont the level of contest. Um, and you'll never get away from that. You know, we've just watched a World Cup where at football where it's exactly the same. It's that is part of the game and how you react. And I think defensively for them, they were allowed to do things the day before that they weren't and that didn't I see didn't adjust through the game. How do you adjust that as a coach? What would you do

um from an from being the people who were filthy off being the side? I didn't say filthy. I didn't. Anyway, you know, I think if you know a team's going to be physical, you just can't use the prop role, can you? You've got to be constantly moving. You've got to take your feet to the ball. You've got to, you know, I remember doing one session um I'm not going to tell you the team it was against, but um was it was actually internationally, but we knew that the ball would be stopped. Now bearing in mind a lot of these teams don't actually do any training sessions during the Comwalth Games because of the load that's required from the tournament. But we used to do a training session where we used to get like someone umpiring at the

side just stopping it. So the hardest thing when it's physical is not only taking on the body and it's a wear and tear over 60 minutes, but it's also the stop of your flow and that can sometimes be disruptive. And I think that's something we probably adjusted to a little bit in that first quarter about and what we started to do is we started to get a bit smarter, change direction, move our body to the ball. Um, but we used to do this session where we used to just stop. So like every two stop, reset and a lot of it is like you start doing set plays right off this one. We need to get in these positions, reposition, get your structure back because a lot of the movements that you're taking um is taking you away from

play. So we always used to practice like getting back into play, getting back your structure um and getting used to but from my perspective um like on telly I thought it looked a clean game. Like I say I think South Africa I think they didn't adapt well. I think England did to the physicality or however that was perceived and I think South Africa didn't. I think they just kept getting blown out the game and it was just it was silly really. It was really silly because, you know, there were one point where I was like, Liv, Liv might as well just have about 30 free shots. It was just training shots for her because the defender was stood by her the whole time. Now, there was no And you're under pressure if Nick if

Nick Smith's allowed to put her arm over. It's a big arm. It is a big arm. Massive arm. It's a massive arm. And yeah, and that's the threat you want to put in, isn't it? It's the threat that you want to put in. So from my like I said I potentially at some point if I was a South African coach I would have chucked something at it because at the time um England was never losing that momentum never losing it. So potentially would have put because I probably potentially would have put Rolene and El Marray together. I'd have tried something because I don't I think that goal attack was probably like I say the weakest point for South Africa and then I would have potentially have put Nicholas Smith out

and whether that would have been Carla or Vista at the back I don't know because I at the end of the day like I don't think it was there that they were losing the ball. I think I just think just didn't think they could stop England's attack. No. And they couldn't and the relief at the end of the game it was lovely to see Fran Williams super happy. I mean, she's had a big like load on her shoulders and I a big shout out to her as well cuz she's been leading that team as captain. She's had changes galore in the last 12 months. She comes in from SSN. She picks the group up. You know, when you talk about lack of experience, this is her first Commonwealth Games as well and yet she is there single-handedly like leading

that group. Actually, no. Tai really interesting yesterday when Shawani went down and it was, you know, she took a knock to the head and it was totally Fumi had got the ball and Chawani gone down to get it, knocked her head on the shoulder and it was bad. She went straight down and that the team's kind of there and Liv Sheen, they're all standing and Liv Sheen was like, "Umpire, umpire." And I was thinking, "What's she going to ask?" And she was like, "Can we get together?" And um she was like, "Yeah, yeah." And I was like, "You know what? There you go. That's why you're in the leadership group. They're the people now that starting to, you know, and it's it's little things like that I get so like I'm so bloody

proud of this England team. Like they are pushing on. They're becoming a group. They're becoming leaders. And it's things like that matter. That really matter." Yeah. And you know, we say about the coaching team, you know, very little head coach experience, you know, recent head coach experience, but what they had is they learned from that game against Australia and they, you know, they could have calculated, but they didn't. Um, I'll tell you what, the questions I did get asked quite a lot um after the last pod was um about Jess Thurby commentating. What are your thoughts on that? Um, what are my thoughts on that? I genuinely thought it was an interesting decision. I It was quite funny because

before it got announced, the whole Gareth Southgate thing at the World Cup came out and um I was like, "Oh, okay. He's decided not to put his name in the hat, giving the team the break." Um I think it's difficult that it was so close to the games that there was clearly a lot of emotions for everybody involved when that happened. Um I never stop anyone from working, trust me. Yeah, you know, plenty of people have gone, why does Tamson get to doing what she does and coach and that? Yeah. No, I don't earn enough money, guys. So, you know, that is part of it. And I work really hard in the media as well. I don't just put my hand up. I work hard. Um so, you know, I'd

never stop that. But I did think it was a strange decision because I'm not sure how you can be um when you that you know, it's not like you were a year out. You it was a few months out. And also, I think it depends. We don't know. There might have been conversations with the players where the players were very supportive of that. We don't know that stuff, but if there was any doubt for me that the players or the coaching staff would feel uncomfortable, um I'm not sure I would have done it. But that, you know, who's to say, you know, people need jobs, things need to happen. Yeah, I think um my thoughts were that you know when I saw

it actually on the picture um I was actually glad that she was coming back to net to be honest because I think there's we can't afford to lose um top coaches or coaches in England that have had re you know a lot of experience. I think the second thing for me is um that we don't earn enough money. I think when you lose a job in coaching like you aren't it's not like in football where you can probably sit on your um sunbed for two to three years like you know work is really important and I think it's something that she has been very good at through her career in respect to the media and some of that I think the feedback I probably would give um on that situation is that I think what we really would have loved to see from her

in that commentary position was a But like I think she talked a lot about the system that she actually instigated. Um and what I would love to have seen from her was the inamp stuff. So there's obviously been a lot of criticism around like Jess Shaw around list skulls around um the sort of playing style of some of the England team of what they've done. I would have loved I think what she should have done and I think what would have gone down really well would have with would have been her talking about what they do in the Roses camp and what they were working on and what were the key instigators and you know when they were saying that and what went wrong cuz you know like there is a point where

you have to own it and just be like well you know and I'm not saying that was the reason you know she stepped away for very personal reasons and that's fine but there was a lot of ups and downs over the years and it's okay to come out. When you're in it, you're not trying to do anything wrong. You're trying to win things. Sometimes you have to come out and go, "Yeah, well that didn't work, but this tour was amazing because of this, but actually when we went to this one and be honest about why you tried things and what you were trying to do." Yeah. I think and why you made decisions on stuff. I think people want to know like, you know, I'm sat I sit here now as and maybe she'll maybe

she'll be me next maybe off the court collecting ex England goes. I mean, you and Jess can do it moving forward. Plenty of people want to see me gone, so it's fine. We Yeah, but then I won't get your misery during the year, which is Oh, and who you going to take the mick out of, Trace? Yeah. But I think from my perspective, I think where she's probably crossed the line is talking about, you know, the integrating of youngsters. You know, that should have happened. They should have had the starting seven, you know, like the things that were quite vulnerable that have not gone down well. But I think where she would have really excelled is one these are the mistakes we made. Um these are the reasons why we

were really working on these particular players. Um and yeah and I think that would have gone down a lot more. So from my I was actually quite happy to have her back in net ball and I'm hoping she does get back into coaching to be fair. Well it's funny because people talk about it all the time and they're like oh you know and they'll go to me oh do you want to go for the England job? I'm like, "Yeah, when I'm ready to retire." Because the thing is, what the hell do you do after you've been the England coach? You come on off the court. I mean, apparently, you come off the court or you go and get a job in football. I'm not sure.

Apparently, someone told me on Twitter on X, stick to football. Oh, funny. Tracy, you know, we knew they were going to make the semi-finals. Never in doubt England roses. They get a day off today, which is brilliant. Uh, and then they're going to face the Silver Ferns. Now, before the competition, I actually said that I thought the Ferns were a bit of a dark horse. I thought they were going to do well. I've watched them all week. I'm not going to do you and say, "Oh, it's never in doubt." But, but I tell you what, I'm I'm quite happy we've got the Ferns at the moment. I don't think I've seen them at their full best this week. They've played lots of different combinations like everyone. um they have suffered injuries. So

yesterday they played a game with 10 players on the court. Granted it was against um bottom of the table so it was fine. It was against Northern Ireland but they've lost Georgia Hefner with an ankle. Katherine Hall had that horrific injury. Did not look great at all. She had to get wheelchaired off. We haven't had any news out of camp. I'm presuming Georgia Heft will be back, but they did play with 10 yesterday. Um, and they're not looking as slick. So, when I say like they're not scoring a lot. So, we sat there and had a little bit of a bet at the game all the production staff and they're like, "How many goals are they going to score?" And I did my usual, well, evidence-based. Well, they're only like getting about six or

seven every 5 minutes, so it's not going to be high. They were all like, "It's going to be 100." I was like, "No, it's not." And it wasn't. They got in the 80s. Um, they're not scoring quickly. and Grace Meki, you know, shot in the 80% against Shamira Sterling Humphrey. Um, what are your thoughts? We said we were happy with New Zealand. Are we still happy? I absolute think that this is Anna Stem Bridg's um and Joe Harton's cake and cherry. I actually don't think we've got a problem against New Zealand. And you know what? That's why I said I think I said on the pod, didn't I, that I'm losing against

fine. It's fine. That's changing room pod. The I did say on the pod if losing to Australia was not a bad thing for us, it wasn't a bad thing because I think the New Zealand style compliments us. And yes, we did lose the series against them in um early. Yeah. But again, it was close like let's all get a grip. It's it there's nothing between it. And I just I think Joe Harten against New Zealand um you know when she was one of my players that was the style she absolutely ripped like she absolutely has got that on to say Anna Stebridge New Zealand style is absolutely hers like when she was head coach like I think that was the first time we just started to really start to you know hit New Zealand hard um so

competitively. So I actually personally think we haven't got a problem against them. I think Noki will be a problem. Obviously the height but you know at the end of the day if we score on the rate that we did against South Africa just keep scoring. I think we'll be okay. Yeah you wear red. I'm just going to wear red all the time. I'm actually wearing white this weekend but um but I have got my rose on that. You're fine. I think we know you're England. I think you're all right. I don't think anyone's going to pull you up on that. Um, what do I think? I think that we got to wait to see that they've got the full lineup back. Like I said, I'm presuming Georgia Hefner will be back.

If they haven't, they've got a problem in that goal attack position. They absolutely have got a problem there. It's a lot slower without her in there. A lot slower. Um, I still think they've got this issue of where they're going to play everybody. I think they'll play Kate Hefernan in the center. And I'm going to say this and I don't say it lightly. I think it'll be a mistake. I think you should play at wing defense, but I don't. I think they'll play her in the middle and I think it will help us. Um, defensively, they are uh as good and as open as ever. So, what I mean by that is you can get glory ball in there and

then they can get an arm to something and get on something, but it's very structured. They sit in their zone. And why they've got a slow scoring rate is because unlike Aussie and South Africa who will challenge you hard upon that third line, they will happily sit back a bit more in a box. again, listening to them, they're being asked to push forward, have a crack at some of that stuff. But if you pick your holes right, and you pick your timing right, and you pick your first phase, second phase, right, you can pull them apart, which at for moments we did in the series that we played them uh late last year. Now, that will help England because they haven't had that free and open stuff. They didn't have that

against Australia and they didn't have it against South Africa. And it does mean us getting free ball and actually we made very few errors against New Zealand in the game. We won the middle series. We only made 15 errors. 15. It was insane. So, we know how to keep ball against them. Shooting will always be a bit of a problem because they're big. Caris sty has impressed me this week. I wasn't sure what we're going to get with her, but she's rangy. She's rangy, but she's not as structured as some of the others, but she gets to stuff. They get to stuff that you're not expecting. Um, but yeah, I think the style of play will help us and it will actually be a bit of a welcome relief

because at times you're going to feel free and when you play against South Africa and Australia, you don't feel free. There were moments in that game where you just can't get free in the end there and I'm like, someone's got to come forward. Whereas against New Zealand, there's there's always someone available. You just got to pick the right person. Yeah. Do you really think I don't know. Would he not start Maddie Gordon in that center? cuz I think that I think she was the key and He defense I think them two win that series against us I think we really struggled um I think struggled

might well it'll either be Mila Ruelli Buchanan Maddie Gordon Kimmy sorry Kate he and Maddie Gordon or it will be Kate Hefan Maddie Gordon Kimmy or a po I suppose we had Helen Hby in that series as well so Lois Pearson was on that wing attack So, and then Lois did move there. Yes. Because if you go back and look at that third test, and I don't say this lightly, it wasn't Helen's finest game. Um, she'd been brilliant the two days before. She got very churny, and it didn't help us at all. Um, and I thought what was calm about yesterday is they were really getting Lois to get back into the circle, wait and punch. They

weren't letting her hang out, which was nice because it actually meant it gave room for the others to do some work. Yeah. Um I don't know. I It was interesting, you know, with the Katherine Hall um announcement. Oh, yeah. We can't make an announcement now. We've got to do scans. That's Yeah. Co Well, I'm going to tell you now. Clubs and coaches only say that when there's an ACL involved. Oh, we've got to go to scans. Like is something that probably always happens. If you ever hear that, it's always ACL or Achilles.

Um so she's obviously out for the tournament. Georgia Hefan will be a massive loss for New Zealand. I think she's surely going to play. You're surely going to strap that ankle up and play, right? Yeah. Well, the chance of then beating us without Georgia there will be very minimal, I think, because I don't think they'll be able to work the ball around that much with um Fumi and potentially, you know, Addio. I don't know. And maybe I or whether they start Jada, who knows? But um I don't think they'll be able to walk the ball around. And this is this will be the interesting thing for England, who they start because will they start the same seven

and use them players as impact knowing that's the change or will they congratulate the seven that finished? And I think this will be the turning point for England about what would you do Tamson? I'd uh cement the seven and impact the changes. Yeah, me too. Because otherwise what else have you got? And if you've trusted that, that's what you've trusted. And actually, again, for what we were talking about with Elmarie Vander, she moves a lot more. So for Jada, it was harder because of she can always go on to that. Grace doesn't I mean to be fair with Rolene with Nolan, sorry. She had um she had name please.

Oh, you're I'm going to get you. I'm hang we're coming back to that. Nolene uh had got Grace Mackey exiting yesterday and obviously they were trying to add that to a game. I think it's too late at competition personally, but they were at least trying it and they were getting Amelia in. So they were obviously testing out if they were going to have to play like that, what they could look at doing. Don't think that would happen against us. So I would still start Jada because it's a bit pinpoint and it allows her to come and fly a bit more. You couldn't come flying against Elray Vanderbar because she'll move. So you know, you want to go out hunting and then Elray goes and gets it and you're like and it was just an easy

ball. And actually funny when Australia were playing South Africa they were shouting at Courtney Bruce not to do it either like not to go off on the fly but to do your job. Um whereas Grace Mackey I think you can. So I'd still start with Jada. I'd still start Fran there because as we saw it doesn't even matter if it's a quarter two change. Doesn't matter. Fumi will come on and wimble. Hi has now proven what she can do and it tactically changes it up and I'm okay with that. And also Image and Allison is still our best wing defense. So get Image and Allison at wing defense. Wind like wind them up. grind them down a bit. She knows Maddie Gordon. She's been at a club with her all year. And then

and then Impact. That's what I'd do. I think Who do you think's the freshest team? Because I think that will make a massive difference Saturday. Um uh Well, I think now I to be fair, New Zealand have changed I they've changed their team around a lot. Like Noki's not, you know, they've not ragged people. They have changed them around. Um, so I would say England and New Zealand go into each other quite evenly matched with that. What I will say is I don't think New Zealand have been challenged. Their two games they beat Uganda 5850 and New Zealand 5348. That was at Jamaica 5348. was slightly more um intense that game, but it wasn't the same grind down as I mean there were there over 100 penalties but

it wasn't the same sort of you know when Shamira selling Humphrey hits you it's very different to when you're being ground down by an Aussie um she bounces off God I love that team the Jamaican team by the way but that's another story um they were so brilliant on the bench yesterday they were absolutely amazing just their chat to the youngsters and how encouraging they are to each other. And it was funny at one point cuz Wales started a proper little fight with Jamaica. I was like, "Wrong team to get in a battle with, wrong team." I was like, "What are you doing?" See you back at the hotel. I was like, "Oh god, no." Um, anyway, I've digressed. But yeah, it was um I don't think I think they're coming level

pegging like that. I think we've got evidence that we can beat them. Um I just think New Zealand don't look great on their through court at the minute and they're not scoring quickly. that will help England because it will be able to control the pace of the game and you can't do that against the Aussies. But do you not think that's just due to the size of the goal attacks in Salmon and Wley? I think when you've got a goal attacks like that like you can't score quickly cuz they don't do enough work rate out the circle. Um and I think that will be something that they're going to probably and that's why they need Georgia in there because against England you need to score

quickly because the more you hold the ball the more we're going to take the ball off you. So, and I think in any semi-final this weekend, you need to score. Um, what about the Australia Jamaica game? That should be interesting because I feel the Jamaican defense, well, in SSN have um Kira and Garbin down to a tea. Um, it will be interesting to see whether they can implement the same pressure um that they do out in Australia. I think um they haven't got Kate Hefn. Yeah, I know. I You know what? But even they didn't have Kate Hefen. They didn't have Kate Hefan for the previous three years before and they still against them.

Yeah, but they're scoring better. Like um I it's really hard for Jamaica because I whether they can back up to a Saturday Sunday is really difficult. So it's whether you go full out on the Saturday. Yeah. And it's so hard and I you know Aken George she's brilliant and you know she's been a good friend of mine for a very long time and I love the fact she's back here playing again but it's it's tricky. You get to that point where it's like you know she she that this will probably be her last competition whether she can do that and then what do you do? Do you take your chances or do you go hard out at Oz or and Oz just look you remember they've got everyone all together.

Courtney Bruce was outstanding against South Africa, outstanding against Elmer Vanderbar. Yeah. Interesting. Bruce and Clow like not probably had the best SSN um year, but come out internationally and absolutely smash it. Um and it's interesting to see why they do that potentially with the support that they've got around them. Um yeah, it they are exceptional. I didn't expect a performance from Bruce like I'm seeing. Oh, she's been brilliant. I love Courtney Bruce. I mean, you she'd wind you right up. Like, literally, she's grinning away and she's all over it. But they're brilliant. They're You know what? They're just so likable. I The

Aussies of old, you'd be like, "Oh, you know, when we used to have our battles with them, I'm talking like 20 years ago." But I And not again because they were not nice people. It was cuz they were really good and they used to beat us. But I feel like now like they're really good and they beat everyone, but they're very they're just cool. I spoke to Jamie Lee Price yesterday. She's just cool. I Yeah, I just love them and I love the fact that they've got an identity the way they play. I you know, Courtney Bruce, they're turning over ball now. It's not just about them grinding you down. They do that and they do the other stuff. They do specky things. Um I love the leadership of Kate

Maloney. Liz Watson can't take a ball off her. I mean, she's been sat in the goal assist top five with one less game than everybody else every week. She just one less game. Still in the top five. She Yeah, they're they're just classy. I think I thought it was interesting yesterday Kira Austin didn't play, bearing in mind she shot 65% against South Africa. Um but again, she'll come out and do what Kira does and just Yeah, I think they'll beat Jamaica and it's not by lack of trying. I feel for Jamaica at this tournament. It might be a push too far for them. It's a rematch of the 2022 final. I think England I think the matchups are good. I think the

matchups are very good and I would like to think England will go home with a medal now regardless. What medal? What color? I can't see anyone beating Australia. And see this is why I think people like you know it would have to take something magnificent. I can't see that. But I think they could make the final. I really do. I think I saw I think there is a little bit of vulnerability like South Africa exposed a little bit of vulnerability. I think we took a lot of ball off them. I know we didn't convert it, but we took some ball off them. And in a final, like in the final, anything can happen.

Anything can happen. Any I'm going on evidence, but yes, anything can happen. They got to get there. They've got to get there. And then you never know because it is a final. And I'll I'll reassess once I've seen the semis and because Australia haven't been pushed yet. So, you know, not properly. Even South Africa, they still won by 10 goals. But yeah, let's get through one game at a time. Tracy Neville, New Zealand upcoming this week. Um before we go uh the name police I was chatting to a group at a lovely brunch club and um they were absolutely wetting themselves when I was like yeah it's live Sheen and you went yeah anyway live to Sheen so they were dying but you were known when you were coaching us and

I think I've mentioned this previously on off the court um as having like your own urging even as an MD even honestly my honestly even now like I'm known I'll tell you a funny story right so um I was doing a team talk to the group and we're playing Australia and um the players that know me I've tended to pick up on who I mean so like I'll say a name and I actually genuinely like people think I'm doing it on purpose and I'm I'm genuinely do right so I'll say a name and the people who honestly've known me for years like if Greggy was sat here now she'd be like yeah I don't even correct her anymore I just like let her get on with and stuff like that. So I'm there and I'm going, "Right, Gillette is going to go across the

baseline and I need you to stop her." Right? So the people who don't know me are going, "Who's Gillette?" And then obviously I'm going for all this. And then people are like looking around going, "Who's Gillette?" I can't remember it. It's just because I'm she's meaning Gretle, guys. So then I tried to turn it around to the advert, you know, like well to be fair, Gillette, she is the best a man can get really, ain't she? So I tried to turn it around like make it funny, but I genuinely honestly it's so funny. I get it all the time. It's funny. Yeah, it's funny. It's just kind of my I mean just one of us has to get it right. Don't worry. I called Ellie for like 15 years. Ellie and she

went Tracy. I've never liked that name. It's L or Eleanor. And I went, "Elle, I've been calling you Ellie for years." And she went, "I know." I said, "So don't take it personal. None of us do. Tracy, if anyone can get away with it, it is you. You're the only one that has won us a gold medal." So, um, you still have hope. We can do it here. You still have hope. The 2026 is England year. I think on a given day, I think we've got a leadership that can take us there. I think Fan is I think Fran's the person to take us to the gold medal.

Well, Fran Williams, no pressure. No pressure whatsoever. But look, we got to get through one game at a time. And fixtures are coming thick and fast. They'll have a game off today uh a day off today for the semi-finals. The rest of them will be on their classifications. So, it'll be Northern Ireland, Trinidad, and Tobago going for 11th and 12th. Tonga, Wales 9th and 10th. Malawi, Scotland. Scotland have had a good week, haven't they? They'll be going for uh seventh and eighth. You've got Uganda and South Africa and God that is a backup, isn't it? You play that game last night, just miss out on the semi-finals and now you have to go

fifth, sixth versus Uganda. And then of course we've got the big ones on Saturday 9:00 a.m. England versus New Zealand. I can't go over these timings. We've had 9:00 games at night and now we've got a 9:00 a.m. game, England, New Zealand, Saturday. Uh and then 1 p.m. Australia versus Jamaica. Uh, and then Sunday will be the finals medals. And you know what, Trace? I've been told I'm doing the medal classification, so I have to announce all the medals and whoever's presenting it. I'm hoping it might be King Charles. And I'll be there to watch you.

But do you know what's really good about that draw, Tansen? Um, I when in Commonwealth 2018, we played first and Aussies played second. Yeah. Um, so I'm thinking great, we both win because then we get longer rest. I love this. Well done, Trace. I see it in the stars. Always see it in the stars. Forget the evidence. She's got a crystal ball at home. Should we look there later? Unless any other nation can get me a ticket. I'm depending on Australia to get the ticket cuz Rachel's my person to get me to that gold medal.

Come on, Rich. Do us a job. We'll beat you in the final. But get there, kid. I'm sure Richard will be listening to this and playing this out in the changing rooms as changing room fod when Tracy Neville said it's England's goal to win. Um, listen, thank you for listening. Thanks for all the input. I need some more positivity from my England fans going into the game this weekend. Please, when I put out my poll, I'm expecting higher percentage than what we had this weekend. But look, we are there and that's all we needed. An opportunity to win a medal. We will of course be back with you on Tuesday the 4th after all of this has played out.

It's going to be a hectic weekend. I'm going to meet Tracy for a matcher, I think. Probably not a procco because it might get a little bit wild. Jeez, I'm not meeting you for a matcher. All right. Well, next time I see you in Glasgow. Weekend off. Let's go wild. No, child. The weekend off, Tamson. Girls weekend. I'll see you up here in Glasgow. Safe travels. Thank you for listening, everybody. This was possible.