England are now looking ahead to the Netball World Cup in South Africa next July

After an enthralling Commonwealth Games netball tournament, we look at what’s next for the top netball nations with a Netball World Cup in South Africa less than a year away.

The fact that a World Championship comes so soon after the Commonwealth Games is always an intriguing feature of the netball calendar.

Next year’s competition starts on July 28th and while 11 months may seem like a long time in terms of the number of individual training hours, on closer inspection there might only be room for two or three series of tests.

In Birmingham, the top four-placed nations – Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica – contested the medal fights and are expected to do so again in South Africa, but the question is how will the positions fall?

Is now Jamaica’s time? Will England violate and deliver her Commonwealth? Can Australia avenge their loss in the World Cup final four years ago or will Dame Noeline Taurua lead New Zealand to back-to-back World Cup titles?

The Commonwealth Games have certainly given us a lot to think about when it comes to answering some of these questions, and let’s start by focusing on those sunshine girl.

Jamaica has for years been a nation considered a ‘real threat’ to this day, but has not always been able to string together full competitions and tournaments.

In Birmingham they delivered their own dynamic and passionate brand of netball but they did so in a mature way throughout the 10 days.

The Sunshine Girls made new netball history at the Commonwealth Games

The Sunshine Girls loved every minute the English crowd drew them into their hearts and were greatly empowered by the knowledge and presence of Rob Wright alongside head coach Connie Francis.

Wright, who is unpaid, penned with the Sunshine Girls as technical defense coach in January and his influence was clear at Birmingham.

Jamaica’s impressive defenders – Shamera Sterling, Latanya Wilson, Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Jodi-Ann Ward – were among the least penalized defenders in the tournament. That wasn’t always the case and allowed them to hold on to so much turnover ball.

Shamera Sterling and Jamaica defenders have been incredible under the added tutelage of Rob Wright

Jamaica played patiently on court, Jhaniele Fowler worked brilliantly in circles and Shanice Beckford’s attack on goal ensured she was not forgotten.

They cost the minutes after halftime in the gold medal match, but the overall Sunshine Girls tournament showed what they can do and what they have achieved with limited resources.

Post-game reports indicated that Wright is a “volunteer” and has taken time off from his job to be in Birmingham. Also that the team arrived without a video analyst, S&C trainer and only one massage therapist for his entire team.

If Jamaica gets the opportunity with further financial and structural support, just think how good they could be? And with the announcement of a three-year sponsorship deal back home, the support has begun.

The Sunshine Girls made history in Birmingham by beating the Diamonds for the first time at the Commonwealth Games and reaching the final for the first time, but with the right preparation and support they could achieve so much more in South Africa.

The Diamonds remained calm in the Finals, retaliating for their pool-stage loss to Jamaica

So what about the Australian diamonds and her way forward? Well, the narrative of her has changed quite a bit from her last pool game to her semi-final win over England, hasn’t it?

No longer under pressure, the Diamonds outplayed England and then put on a solid performance in the Grand Final when Stacey Marinkovich made the early personnel changes and their players delivered for them.

The depth of Australia’s netball means their talent conveyor belt will continue to impress in the run-up to the Netball World Cup.

In South Africa next July they will play with the same emotion they brought with them from the knockout rounds in Birmingham as they have another score to settle.

New Zealand’s win at Liverpool in the 2019 World Netball Championship didn’t sit well with them and a despised Diamonds team is a dangerous Diamonds team, just ask England about it.

Jess Thirlby and England’s vitality roses have to think a little after finishing fourth at their home Commonwealth games and the overall extent of that thinking depends on the players’ decisions about their future.

Eboni Usoro-Brown and Stacey Francis-Bayman have already announced their retirement from elite-level netball, meaning England’s defensive end will need to be strengthened again.

Layla Guscoth will lead the way for those entering the mix and the talent that someone like Funmi Fadoju has is undeniable, but how quickly can she transfer that to the international stage?

With all due respect, it’s a different ball game that Gretel Bueta and Grace Nweke are using to address the challenges they previously faced at club level. That’s not to say Fadoju can’t, but rushing them and getting the transition wrong is something Thirlby wants to avoid at all costs.

Jade Clarke looks as good as ever but will she make it to South Africa? Also, what about Geva Mentor? Both players’ decisions will affect England’s plans and path forward.

Eleanor Cardwell had an exceptional tournament for England

Emotions were running high after fourth place in England and perhaps not enough has been talked about the form they have shown. Stoic all-court defense had brought about rallies and converted them through fast and clinically working offense.

There was, of course, discussion of over-reliance on Nat Metcalf on the wing attack. And yes, in the coming months and testing, someone else will have to step up to provide an expert second option there.

Like Australia, England will arrive at the Netball World Cup with an emotional motivation as the home games ended without gold medals.

A bronze medal was won at Liverpool but under a different head coach so feelings from Birmingham will be fresher for that regime.

New Zealand will now aim to defend their netball world title in South Africa

of New Zealand The seven-goal win over England in the bronze medal game gave them something to work with over the next 12 months as they attempted to defend their World Cup title in South Africa.

They arrived in Birmingham slightly off balance, without former captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who failed to meet her steadfast fitness standards, new mum Jane Watson and Karin Burger due to a broken foot.

An Ekenasio matching Taurua’s fitness standards is world class, Watson sits in that group too and the work Burger does, especially when she’s in wing defence, is relentless.

In short, New Zealand needs to come up with more and have a national netball structure, which means Taurua will be heavily involved throughout the season. They also have three Test series against Jamaica on their calendar, which could prove to be a brilliant move.

The Sunshine Girls and New Zealand will play for the Taini Jamison Trophy in September, in addition to the Constellation Cup against Australia.

Tough games, returning players, great competition for spots and Taurua’s outstanding brain should ensure New Zealand arrive in South Africa in perfect form to defend their world title.

For now, each team will take some time to process the results of the 10 days of action at the NEC Arena and get their bodies back to normal after such a grueling schedule of competition.

England will return to a home court together for a three-Test series against Uganda in October. With the stands packed in Birmingham, expect tickets to be snapped up as the Roses look ahead, learn from the Commonwealth Games and focus on the 2023 Netball World Cup.