Proteas start World Cup campaign with win over Wales

Fifth-ranked South Africa got their Netball World Cup 2023 campaign under way on a winning note when they beat ninth-ranked Wales 61-50 in front of a packed CTICC in Cape Town on Friday.

This was the fourth World Cup meeting between the countries, with South Africa winning all of them.

In their last meeting in 2015 in Sydney, the score was 68-40.

The win marked coach Norma Plummer's 100th win in 153 international matches.

The perfect start to the #NWC2023 for the SPAR Proteas ?

Norma Plummer reaches the milestone of 100 wins as a coach at international level - ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ????????????????. pic.twitter.com/yFFafZ1lSk
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) July 28, 2023

Coach Norma Plummer decided to put her faith in the youngsters with Ine-Marie Venter and Elmeré van der Berg starting in the goal circle and the more experienced Lenize Potgieter on the bench.

At the other end of the court was the experienced defending duo of Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni. Pretorius was playing in her 99th test.

Despite it taking the Proteas a while to find their feet, once they got the rhythm going, they moved with speed and agility through the court.

Venter occupied the goal circle well and shot with accuracy. Van der Berg missed her first few chances and seemed rattled by the big stage.

South Africa pulled away at the end of the first quarter, much to the frustration of the Welsh with even their shooters blown up for persistent contact.

UPPED THE TEMPO

Pretorius was in great form, putting on full display why she was player of the tournament four years ago in Liverpool.

Two minutes before halftime, her defensive partner Maweni created an unbelievable turnover, literally throwing her body on the line and flying across the court.

The Proteas led 32-24 at halftime and Plummer must have thought it too close for comfort. Jeante Strydom earned her first international cap for South Africa when she replaced Shadine van der Merwe while Van der Berg moved to the bench with Nichole Taljaard coming on.

Taljaard and Van der Berg definitely combined better in the goal circle and the former was also more accurate at goal.

Nicola Smith took over the goal defence position for the final quarter as Pretorius got a well-deserved break, no doubt being rested for Sunday’s big one against Jamaica.

Smith grabbed her opportunity to shine and gave Welsh goal shooter Ella Powell-Davies little room to move.

In the final minutes, South Africa finally started pulling away. They used their status as one of the most experienced teams at the World Cup (in terms of international caps) and upped the tempo to completely shut out the Welsh and clinch an important victory on the first day of action.

“I am thrilled with how we played tonight; I will take the win even though I thought we could have done better. Our ladies really came out to play and I think Ine (Venter) deserved the accolade tonight, she stepped up very nicely. Elmere (van der Berg) played okay even though I feel like a big crowd got to her. Nichole Taljaard is a great athlete, and we will need to manage her and the small errors she makes – I believe that Jeante Strydom is an exceptional player who is super focused, we put her in and did wonders for us, just need to manage her well,” said an elated Plummer.

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Game 1? is in the bag! ??
Victory for South Africa over Wales (their 20th win) in their opening ???????? ?? match at the 2023 Netball World Cup! ??#SPARProteas | #NWC2023 pic.twitter.com/bSF4yTS6zY
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) July 28, 2023