Spar Proteas Prepare For Commonwealth Games With Test Series In New Zealand
The SPAR Proteas are scheduled to play a three-Test series against the Silver Ferns in New Zealand later this year. This series is part of their preparations for the Commonwealth Games next year in Glasgow and the Sydney Netball World Cup in 2027.
The Silver Ferns, currently ranked second in the world, will compete with the fifth-ranked SPAR Proteas for the Taini Jamison Trophy. The matches will take place in Auckland, Napier, and Invercargill on September 21, 24 & 28.
National coach Jenny van Dyk expressed her excitement about the upcoming tour. "We learned so much during our tour of Jamaica and England earlier this year, and we need to step up our game. It is important for us to play against the top four teams as often as possible," she said. "I am happy with our core group of players, but we will keep an eye on the Telkom Netball League to identify any talent that we may have overlooked."
Assistant coach Zanele Mdodana emphasized the importance of competing against top teams to assess the strength of the SPAR Proteas. "If we want to reach the semifinals in the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup, we need to beat at least one of the top four teams. Therefore, it's crucial for us to play these teams consistently and frequently," Mdodana stated.
The head coach of New Zealand, Dame Noeline Taurua, also looks forward to the series. "We’re excited to host the South African team for the Taini Jamison Trophy, and these matches will serve as a great test for us as we continue to build our squad depth and combinations," she commented.
Over the past ten years, the SPAR Proteas and the Silver Ferns have faced each other 37 times, with the SPAR Proteas winning only one match. The highest score the SPAR Proteas achieved against New Zealand was 60 points in 2019, when they lost 62-60. The average score in matches between the two teams is 66-38 in favor of the Silver Ferns.
In 1995, South Africa managed to defeat New Zealand 59-57 in Birmingham and subsequently played Australia in the final of the Netball World Cup.
In the most recent encounter between the SPAR Proteas and Silver Ferns at the 2023 Netball World Cape in Cape Town, South Africa the teams drew 48-48.
