South Africa has named a full strength line up for the upcoming Quad Series against Australia, England and New Zealand, but the Roses are sweating on the fitness of a star goaler.
Weeks after Australia and New Zealand announced their talent-packed squads, the SPAR Proteas have confirmed they will welcome back defensive superstar Karla Pretorius for the first time in 15 months.
Pretorius missed the entire 2022 Super Netball season and Commonwealth Games after welcoming her first child in June.
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But she’ll make her netball return on the international stage, after being named in the strong SPAR Proteas’ squad for the January Test matches.
Without their experienced stars in Pretorius and goal shooter Lenize Potgieter – who missed the Games through injury, the South Africans could only manage a sixth-place finish in Birmingham in a disappointing campaign.
But they’ve got former Australian mentor Norma Plummer back at the helm ahead of a World Cup year, to be held at their Cape Town home starting in July.
“We have assembled a very competitive team which will be great to watch as they take on the top three ranked nations in the world and gauge where the team is,” Plummer said.
“I do believe that we have a lot of work to do on our journey to the World Cup.”
While South Africa are celebrating the return of both Pretorius and Potgieter – who missed the Commonwealth Games through injury, England could be without star Ellie Cardwell.
Cardwell, who has signed for the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the upcoming 2022 Super Netball series, will miss the Roses series against Jamaica starting in the coming days.
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“Eleanor Cardwell is managing an injury sustained before Christmas and is working with the team,” a Roses spokesperson said.
“She won’t be available for the Jamaica Series and will be monitored ahead of the Netball Quad Series.”
Cardwell had been training with the Thunderbirds pre-Christmas after being one of her side’s best in the 3-0 England Series loss to Australia last October.
The Roses were without Jo Harten for that series against Australia, despite the veteran being named in the squad, due to injury. Harten has once again been named for this series.
The Aussies will be without Commonwealth Games star Gretel Bueta, as she continues to take time away from the sport.
New Zealand will be at full strength for the series starting January 22, welcoming back star defenders Jane Watson after the birth of her first child and Karin Burger from injury.
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QUAD SERIES FIXTURES (AEDT)
January 22
1am – Spar Proteas vs Silver Ferns
3am – Australia vs Vitality Roses
January 23
1am – Spar Proteas vs Vitality Roses
3am – Australia vs Silver Ferns
January 25
1am – Vitality Roses vs Silver Ferns
3am – Spar Proteas vs Australia
January 26
1am – 3rd & 4th Play offs
3am -Final
FULL QUAD SERIES SQUADS
Australia: Sunday Aryang, Kiera Austin, Ash Brazill, Courtney Bruce, Sophie Dwyer, Sophie Garbin, Paige Hadley, Sarah Klau, Cara Koenen, Kate Moloney, Jamie-Lee Price, Liz Watson, Jo Weston, Steph Wood.
New Zealand: Karin Burger, Gina Crampton, Ameliaranne Ekenasio (captain), Sulu Fitzpatrick, Kate Heffernan, Kelly Jury, Phoenix Karaka, Claire Kersten, Grace Nweke, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Whitney Souness, Peta Toeava, Jane Watson, Maia Wilson.
England: Imogen Allison, Ellie Cardwell, Jade Clarke, Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, Funmi Fadoju, Layla Guscoth, Jo Harten, Alice Harvey, Helen Housby, Laura Malcolm, Elle McDonald, Geva Mentor, Natalie Metcalf, Chelsea Pitman, Olivia Tchine, Fran Williams.
South Africa: Lenize Potgieter, Ine-Marí Venter, Nicholé Taljaard, Nomfundo Mngomezulu, Sesandile Ngubane, Bongiwe Msomi (C), Khanyisa Chawane, Izette Griesel, Refiloe Nketsa, Boitumelo Mahloko, Phumza Maweni, Karla Pretorius, Shadine van der Merwe (VC), Zanele Vimbela, Monique Reyneke-Meyer.
