The Silver Ferns are looking to start their Quad Series campaign with a bang against host nation South Africa, with their star defensive duo back on court.
Karin Burger returns from injury and Jane Watson is back after giving birth to her first child as both players missed the bronze medal Commonwealth Games campaign and recent Constellation Cup series.
Coach Dame Noeline Taurua is set to unveil a very different looking line up to what was put on court for the two Australia leg games of the Constellation Cup – with Peta Toeava to return at wing attack and Burger and Watson set for early minutes.
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“I think Jane has been sorely missed,” domestic New Zealand competition coach Kiri Wills said on The Kiwi Netball Show.
“Her mobility – she’s so different to Sulu (goal keeper Fitzpatrick) and Kelly (Jury) and the way they play.
“There’s something elusive about Jane. She always gets hands to the ball.
“Of course Karin with her strength coming back as well (is a positive).”
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Tuarua said she expects her defensive trio to win back more ball than in recent matches, with Watson to play her first game since 2021.
“Where we can shift hugely is defensively, getting more gains, more dominance,” she said.
“Looking forward to seeing what that looks like with Jane coming back into the mix and Karin as well.”
It’s a big call to bring Watson straight back given the huge influence Kelly Jury had in the two winning New Zealand legs of the Constellation Cup.
While Jury fell away in the final two games, which were won by Australia to seal the series, she had been a solid contributor down back.
The Ferns will be taking on a South African outfit boosted by the returns of defender Karla Pretorius (pregnancy) and Lenize Potgieter (injury).
Game one will be followed by the clash between Australia and England from 3am AEDT.
It’s the first time the two nations have met since last October where the Diamonds swept the three-game series.
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But like South Africa, the Roses have a key weapon back in Jo Harten after she travelled to Australia but did not feature in the series.
England Test representative Stacey Bayman-Francis says there’s plenty of pressure on England coach Jess Thirlby after the narrow 2-1 series win over Jamaica earlier this month.
“There’s been nothing but pressure on Jess since she came in charge,” she told Fox Netball.
“I think she’s copped quite a lot of criticism.
“A team that underperformed in the Commonwealth Games (with fourth place). She puts her heart and soul into the performance.”
