SPAR Proteas eye Silver Ferns clash as coaching shake-up rocks New Zealand

The SPAR Proteas have touched down in Auckland ready to take on New Zealand in the 2025 Taimi Janison Trophy – a three-Test series that promises high intensity and plenty of intrigue.

Coaching upheaval in the Silver Ferns camp

The Silver Ferns come into this series under unusual circumstances. Head coach Dame Noeline Taurua and assistants Debbie Fuller and Briony Akle have stepped down, leaving questions around how the team will respond.

For the Proteas, it’s an added talking point but not a distraction.

“We will not allow the news from Silver Ferns to make us relax because this could go either way – the team might be stronger and want to prove that they can do it with their long serving coach or they can fall apart – regardless of what they do, it is important for us to stick to our game plan and ensure that we execute it accordingly. 

“We have assembled a team that we believe is good enough to compete. Ours is to make sure that we show up, are prepared and do well,” said head coach Jenny van Dyk.

Strength in overseas experience

One of the positives for South Africa heading into the series is the strength of their squad. For the first time in years, eight of the 15 players are currently based overseas.

The coaching team of van Dyk and Zanele Mdodana see this as a major advantage, with players bringing valuable experience from international leagues back into the national fold. The result, they believe, is a deeper pool of knowledge, greater competition for places, and stronger options on court.

Early focus after arrival

The Proteas landed in Auckland on Sunday evening and wasted no time getting down to business. Training sessions were scheduled almost immediately, ensuring that the squad hit the ground running in preparation for the first Test.

Van Dyk confirmed that the team, including new additions, are ready for the challenge. Shadine van der Merwe returns to the side for the first time since the 2023 Netball World Cup and takes up the vice-captaincy. Nozipho Ntshangase also makes a comeback, while Entle Futshane and Juanita van Tonder are set for their first international caps.

History and the underdog tag

The numbers show the scale of the task ahead. New Zealand have dominated this rivalry, winning 36 of 38 encounters, with one draw and one South African victory.

Even so, van Dyk insists that the Proteas will not shy away from expectation.

“We are seen as underdogs, granted, but that does not mean that we should not aim for a win. We approach every game with the seriousness it deserves, and we always aim for a win. Now the most pressure is on the host because they are home and want to make their fans happy – but we also need to step up,” she said.

The first Test is set to revive one of world netball’s most compelling rivalries – with the Proteas determined to prove that the underdog tag does not define them.

Fixtures – all games start at 9.40am

Sunday, September 21

Wednesday, September 24

Sunday, September 28