The Spar Proteas will be hoping to end their Australasian tour with something to take home. South Africa will begin the last round of the tour against the current world champions, Australia, at the Red Energy Stadium in Bendigo on Saturday.
The first round saw South Africa leave New Zealand empty-handed after a whitewash at the hands of the Silver Ferns. However, the senior national team can take comfort in the improved performance towards the end of that series.
The Proteas will take on the Origin Diamonds in a three-test match series from 4 to 12 October. Although South Africa has not been able to defeat Australia in the 46 encounters the two have met, captain Khanyisa Chawane believes the performance the team delivered in New Zealand will be key to continue the momentum picked up in the first series and help them do well against the 12 times champions.
“I don’t think it is something we can put behind us. We are putting it as part of our process (to do well). We are looking to give Australia a challenge. Our mindset is on really wanting to do well. We want to finish off what we started. Yes, we are disappointed that we didn’t win, especially in the last game, but it gives us confidence and something to push us forward going into this new series,” says Chawane.
The coaches announced a strong 15-player squad for the tour Down Under, which includes two new call-ups in Entle Futshane and Juanita van Tonder. However, the duo is yet to earn their first caps in the green and gold. Van Dyk says the coaching staff, including assistant Zanele Mdodana, is pleased with how the team has been performing so far and that there may not be significant changes to the team that played in the Taini Jamison Cup.
“The 12 players that we have been running with have been doing a great job for us. The three new players have been training well, but for us it is also important to understand which players need the experience, the exposure, and have got what it takes to be able to perform for us. New Zealand and Australia have a different style of playing, and we have been working hard to make that transition to make the players understand the different styles and different approaches. We are in a process where we know what works for us, and we are always satisfied with the way we get things done.
It is about stepping up and making sure we know what kind of style we are going to put out there to get the results that we need. It is about managing our momentum. We are going in the right direction, and we know what we are working towards. I am proud of the players and the progress they have made,” says van Dyk.
The Proteas have had a chance to play in several countries this year, including Jamaica and England, where the home crowd came in handy for the hosts as the eighth player. Van Dyk says playing away will be key in preparing the players to have a strong mindset when the team travels to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year, as well as in Australia for the 2027 Netball World Cup.
“It is something that we have discussed quite a lot. We understand the amount of pressure we are putting on the team to be able to travel, but for it is important for us to put out a product that the top four teams can play against in order to prepare for big competitions. It is more important that they play the best lines against us. It is difficult to play away, but we are looking at a bigger picture, being able to perform no matter where we are. But we are confident that we can run with the best,” she explains.
Newest centurion, Chawane, believes she is privileged to join an elite group of players who have represented the country a 100 times or more. She joins Bongiwe Msomi, Karla Pretorius, Erin Burger, Maryka Holtzhausen, and Phumza Maweni. Msomi has the most caps for South Africa, having played in 171 matches. Chawane says she’s proud of having represented the country 100 times.
“I consider myself blessed to be a centurion in South Africa. There are so many players who have contributed to this game, but there is only a few who have appeared a 100 times for the country. That is something I am really proud of and I am proud to be doing it with this group. A group that is willing to learn and willing to change the narrative. I am in a privileged position to lead this group. I am looking forward to seeing what this group can do,” says the skipper.