2022 Commonwealth Games – Day 7 (Aug 4)

It’s probably a hard question to answer, but what’s the penalty count for NZ WD/Cs?
I haven’t watched too many full games, but the halves I have seen I don’t recall too much whistle in our defence (I could be very wrong).

I feel having a Gordon/Winders as WD/C options, they would have been spending most of their time out of play.
I still think we have a very decent midcourt (I’m including Mes as WA). Just maybe the wrong combinations used 🤷‍♂️

@minkie If we lose against Jamaica we play either England or Australia for Bronze. Not a promising prospect.

I hope Souness is getting all the praise and encouragement to go out there in the semi and deliver on the promise she showed in Cadbury Series because if her and Gina can get that speed and understanding cranking it will go a long way to helping our chances today.

I think we have to start with a TPSR (at GA) and Wilson shooting pairing. Nweke will get monstered. Switch TP and Wilson when TP tires and use Mes as a change up. I hope she has a cup of confidence with her corn flakes this morning because she needs it (sorry Minkie)

Defensively keep Sulu away from GD. She’s only a GK. But really the remit has to be to Heffernan and Karaka to get ball before it even gets in that shooting third or else we’re toast.

Easy as?

DNT has to really think thoroughly (which I’m sure she’s doing) on who starts at GA.

I do think the biggest difference between playing the Cadbury series vs playing Eng/Aus/Jam. Is none of the teams in the Cadbury series had a tight marking GD. Which allowed players like Wilson/TPSR (who love space) easier access into the circle and vision to feed.
Now they are facing that tight man-on marking, which is messing with the timing in our attack.

You need to earn your position on the court, which would be reflective in individuals stats etc. BUT maybe she needs to run Bailey Mes at GA, more so for her speed, movement and athletiscm. She does know how to feed Nweke well, she has shown that at WA and at the Mystics.
Definitely a hard decision to make!

RE: the SSN import discussion – I thought it was interesting to see that Lisa Alexander said she agreed with Nat Medhurst’s article arguing against the idea that imports caused Australia’s loss to Jamaica.

I’m enough of a Noeline Taurua fan that I would love to see her pull off a genius game plan tonight, but not enough to want the Ferns to beat Jamaica (sorry!). Jamaica’s performance in 2019 when they had such a promising team was so disappointing, and I’m far too happy about them finally getting things right to want to see them miss the final.