Proteas eye Commonwealth Games edge as England series lights up Joburg

With the Spar Proteas and England’s Vitality Roses drawn in the same pool for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year, the coming three-Test series in Johannesburg offers the fifth-ranked Proteas a chance to score a huge psychological victory over the team ranked one place above them.   

The teams have enjoyed some hotly contested clashes over the years – most recently at the start of last year, when the Proteas claimed one win and England one win in the Nations Cup in the UK. They will renew that rivalry in the Spar Challenge netball series that gets under way at the Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg on Thursday.

“I think with eyes on the Commonwealth Games, this is great preparation for us as a country to see what type of combinations work best against the combinations that they put out there,” said Proteas head coach Jenny van Dyk.

“It’s great to have the first opportunity as a new coaching pair to actually play one of the (world’s) top four in South Africa. That’s also something that we feel – they need to feel a little bit of our environment, so we’re hoping that the crowds will come out and give them that true South African feel to the game as well."

Van Dyk's goals for the Commonwealth Games have been clearly defined.

"We had our hands full on that second phase against England that previous round when we played them in the Nations Cup, so it's always been quite a big focus area. But just getting that specialist wing attack position and settling on that specific position is a priority for us, and also just creating the depth in the circles," she said.

"We've had a couple of injuries here and there and that really tested us, in what we had left on the bench. So to us it's more about finding the balance and the depth to still be in a position to perform in any situation that unfolds."  

Proteas captain Khanyisa Chawane said she was confident her side has what it takes to pull off another win against the English, especially on home turf. 

“I’m extremely excited, especially because the team that’s going to face them now is not the same. We’ve got new people who have new things to give, so we’re getting into this series unpredictable and that’s what I love about this team," she said.

The England camp expressed their love of touring South Africa and the respect they have for the Proteas side after so many close battles.

“I think this head-to-head over many years has actually brought a fantastic quality of netball – quite a different style to match-ups between ourselves and Australia and New Zealand. In its own right I think the head-to-head has been really entertaining and really competitive,” said England coach Jess Thirlby. 

“We really respect the passion and the momentum that the Proteas have had over the last 18 months … and the breakthrough talent that’s come in, so we’re really grateful for the opportunity to hit out against what we believe to be a South African team on the rise.”

“I’m expecting similar rivalry to what we had last January, but here on your home soil, so we’re very excited for it.”

The opening match between the Proteas and the Roses takes place at 6pm on Thursday, with the remaining on Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 4pm.

Prior to each of the matches, the South African men’s netball side, who recently came off another successful campaign at the Africa Netball Cup, will also be put to the test as they take on the visiting Australian national team, also in a three-Test series.