‘We wouldn’t do that’: Australian Diamonds to steer clear of tea-sipping celebration at Netball World Cup

Australia’s netball team watched Alex Morgan’s FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final goal celebration and decided such a gesture does not represent what they’re about.

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Even if the Diamonds exact Commonwealth Games revenge on England, deep in tea-sipping country, you won't catch a single pinkie raised in toast.

Because Australia’s Netball World Cup team watched Alex Morgan’s FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final goal celebration and decided such a gesture does not represent what they’re about.

The starUnited States forward made global headlines last week when she scored the winner against England to send her eventual champions into the decider, and then mimicked sipping a cup of tea.

USA player Alex Morgan’s ‘tea-sipping’ celebration after she scored against England at the Women’s World Cup. Picture: AFP

The celebration, along with her “And that’s the tea” tweet, sparked accusations she’d taken a swipe at Phil Neville's Lionesses.

Morgan herself was indignant at the polarising reaction, insisting it "wasn't a hit to England" but a tribute to Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner, and adding it reflected “double standards for females in sports to feel like we have to be humble in our success”.

Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said the debate became a talking point among her squad.

“I'm always interested in how the teams craft their tournaments, particularly how they go about their business,” Alexander told The Daily Telegraph.

“It was really interesting watching the to-do between the USA and England about the scouting of the hotels, and then the cup of tea stuff.

Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander says her team is into ‘more of that humility side of things.’ Picture: AAP

“We were talking about that, we always talk about that in our group because it's part of us getting a common understanding of what we think is appropriate for us.

“As we said, we wouldn't do that because we're more into more of that humility side of things and not really putting it in the faces of the opposition.

“We show our respect for them in different ways.”

In terms of netball rivalries, the focus in Liverpool is well and truly on Australia v England.

Ever since last April when Helen Housby’s late, late goal denied the Diamonds Commonwealth Games gold on the Gold Coast, there’s been a sentiment of big-stage vengeance brewing on their adversaries’ home soil.

Should they meet – and defeat – Tracey Neville’s Roses in the later stages of the tournament, there’ll be emotion.

But Alexander described the way that’s portrayed as “a really fine line”.

“It's part of the players’ sisters-in-arms trademark about their behaviours off court and how important that is, and how important they are as role models to young girls and women in Australia particularly,” she said.

“That's what we're always thinking about, that we want to not only be exceptional out on the court, we also want to be exceptional off the court and really reflect what we believe is the true Australian character, which is don't get ahead of yourselves, stay humble but confident about what you do.”