The Proteas will hope to capitalise on changes in the shooting circle and “indecisiveness” at centre for Jamaica when the South Africans take on the Sunshine Girls in the three-Test Margaret Beckford Sunshine series in Kingston that kicks off this weekend.
Proteas coach Jenny van Dyk revealed yesterday that their third-ranked rivals will be minus two first-choice shooters at the National Indoor Centre in Jamaica, and that the African champions would be hoping to capitalise on that.
Van Dyk is under no illusions that the task will be an easy one against a team boasting plenty of experience with a host of players featuring at the highest level of the game, and five of the seven starters from the last Netball World Cup.
A number of the Sunshine Girls players are also dominating Australia’s top-flight, and the Proteas mentor feels that this has spawned a “Caribbean-Aussie” style of play.
🇿🇦✈️🇯🇲 Touchdown in JA, looking forward to the Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series! 🌴 Let’s go!#SPARProteas #SPARBabyProteas #WeAreAllIn
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) January 13, 2025
📸 Collin Reid pic.twitter.com/RUMSnB6YKR
Adding to the difficulty is the fact that the South Africans will have to cope without the vastly experienced goal defence, Karla Pretorius, who is being rested for the tour and has been replaced by rising star Sanmarie Visser.
Van Dyk said this would not stop them from trying to impress the Proteas style on the hosts, who are now ranked third in the world.
“Playing against the Jamaicans is not quite the same as it used to be back in the day, because most of these Jamaican players are currently playing in the Suncorp Super Netball league (in Australia) – especially the starting seven players.
“So, there is a lot of change in the way they actually approach the game now.”
She said this had required a major adaptation in their approach to the series, without divulging too much on tactics.
The fifth-ranked Proteas and the Sunshine Girls have played each other 18 times, with SA winning three times.
The Sunshine Girls’ defence end has often been the envy of many rivals, but Van Dyk said she has picked up on a “little bit of indecisiveness on that centre position”.
With every pass, with every goal. They play with heart, they play with soul. 🙌🇿🇦#SPARProteas #WeAreAllIn pic.twitter.com/J6tjSgs7xi
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) January 16, 2025
Nevertheless, she knows that the visitors will have to keep their error rate down and grind out results.
Asked where else she felt this Test series will be won or lost, she said: “Definitely in the circle, because that’s where we score our goals.
“But the experience they have with Sterling (Shameera Sterling-Humphrey) and (Jodi-Ann) Ward in that circle, it’s just that they’ve been playing together in combination for such a long time.
“And for us, we’ve really been dissecting (their play) and finding ways to beat them in and around that circle.
“So, the patience in and around the circle is going to be key for us.
☀️ Good morning from beautiful Jamaica! 🇯🇲🌴 With smiles as bright as the Caribbean sun. 😍#SPARProteas #WeAreAllIn pic.twitter.com/54XGhZQEMZ
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) January 16, 2025
“But also on the defence, we can’t wait to turn the ball under the posts all every time – that first and second phase within our defensive unit is going to be so important.”
The first Tests of the series will take place tomorrow (Sunday morning SA time), with the second one on January 22 and third on January 25. | Independent Media Sport