Netball: South Africans a different challenge for Silver Ferns

South Africa are likely to feel the full impact of a Silver Fern side still reeling from their upset loss to Australia in Monday night's one-off test in Auckland.

While New Zealand are coming off a 48-38 loss to Australia, South Africa arrive in Auckland today fresh from a three-test series against Fiji in Suva which was drawn.

Fiji recorded their first win over South Africa, 51-43, in the first test. The second was drawn 47-47 before South Africa squared the series with a 52-46 victory.

The last time the Silver Ferns played South Africa was in the Commonwealth Games this year in Melbourne, which they won 74-37.

While the South African team is considerably less experienced than the Silver Ferns - their international test cap average before their series against Fiji and New Zealand's against Australia was 15.6 compared to New Zealand's 47 - they do have plenty of height and will provide the Silver Ferns with a different challenge than the Australians.

Two players to keep an eye out for are midcourt player Liezel Wium, who has played for the Shakers and the Force in the National Bank Cup, and 1.92m goal shooter Sindisiwe Gumede, who is very accurate under the post.

Ferns' coach Ruth Aitken said it was her intention to get all 12 players on court during the two tests against Australia and one test against South Africa, which means Rebels' captain Debbie White is poised to make her debut.

Aitken said she felt it was too much to expect White to front up against Australia when Temepara George went off injured in the second test.

"Certainly on Monday night it will be great to see her in the black dress. We want to involve a number of players in the game, but certainly want to keep our flow and our performance the way we want it."

The Silver Ferns regroup in Auckland tomorrow. Aitken is confident George will be fit.

While they would like to forget Tuesday night's loss to Australia, Aitken said it had to be remembered to ensure it did not happen again.

"I know we have learnt a lot, but it has hurt us terribly."

While Aitken has been criticised for her selection choices, she stands by her decision.

She said Casey Williams was used at goal keep and goal defence in the Silver Ferns' environment, so starting her there wasn't completely out of left field.

However, she was perplexed why it took Irene van Dyk so long to settle.

"It is a good lesson for Irene to ensure her head is where it needs to be if the decision is made that she is not to start, and that she is to come on and make her presence felt. But we were all not quite with it."


New Zealand vs Africa

Monday: 8.45pm at Waitakere's Trusts Stadium, live TV One.

New Zealand: Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia, Belinda Colling, Adine Wilson (c), Temepara George, Laura Langman, Leana de Bruin, Vilimaina Davu, Casey Williams, Joline Henry, Anna Scarlett

South Africa: Charlene Hertzog (c), Nthabiseng Moabi, Sindisiwe Gumede, Christine Markgraaff, Zanele Mdodana, Adele Niemand, Yvonne Phiri, Yolandi Saalmans, Annari Store, Karin Venter, Liezel Wium, Leigh-Ann Zackey