Netball: South Africans look back to single win over Ferns

The year was 1995, the location was Birmingham, the event was the world championships.

South Africa produced the upset of the tournament, knocking out the Silver Ferns and advancing to the final where they were beaten by Australia.

That two-goal win is South Africa's only victory over New Zealand in 19 matches.

The coach of that side was Marlene Wagner, who after a four-year break returned as head coach just before the last world championships.

Her major weapon was Irene van Dyk - the player she has to try to figure out how to shut down in tonight's test in Auckland.

"She was our mainstay in that team for that win," Wagner recalled.

"I have coached her for many years and she is an absolute marvel in the circle."

The South Africans, ranked fifth in the world, arrived in Auckland on Saturday fresh from a three-test series against Fiji which they drew. Fiji won the first 51-43, the second was drawn 47-47 and South Africa won the last 52-46.

Wagner was pleased with how her side ended the series but knows they have a tough task tonight against a New Zealand team still hurting from their loss to Australia.

Realistically New Zealand is number one in the world," she said. "At the end of the day, if we can keep the scoreline quite tight that will be a great achievement."

The two sides last squared off at the Commonwealth Games which New Zealand won 74-37.

After leading 46-16 at halftime New Zealand subbed off Irene van Dyk and Vilimaina Davu only to have them return in the final quarter.

Wagner said although the score heavily favoured the Silver Ferns, her side took confidence from the third and fourth quarter scores which New Zealand narrowly won 14-11 and 14-10.

"If we can build and play like we did in those last two quarters ... it could be a very different game."

South Africa's strength is likely to be their shooting circle which includes 1.92m Sindisiwe Gumede, 1.82m Christine Markgraff and 1.86m Claudette Fourie. Their defence, although tall, has no one as tall as 1.90m van Dyk.

"That is a real problem for us and that is why we will need to stem the flow of attacking ball from New Zealand and deny Irene [van Dyk] the ball."

While van Dyk is likely to cause the South Africans plenty of difficulty, defender Leana de Bruin could also be a thorn in her home country's side.

"It is hard for us as South Africans. They have chosen a new country and now they are Silver Ferns. We will just have to go out and play hard against them.

"Unfortunately they understand our [Afrikaans] language so we will now select one of our other black languages to converse with on court," she said.