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The Proteas aim to close the distance between themselves and Australia, the top-ranked team in world netball as they head into their second test match.
This matchup is set to unfold at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart on Sunday at 08:00 (South African time).
The team’s head coach, Norma Plummer leads her charges on a tour Down Under, which consists of three test matches.
The tour began on Thursday with a 62-43 defeat.
Plummer openly acknowledged multiple mistakes made in the inaugural test against her native country.
Nonetheless, she aspires to witness a tightly contested match against the reigning World Champions, a team she herself coached many years ago.
“Australia holds the top spot in the world rankings for a valid reason. Personally, I’m not disheartened at all because I understand the strength Australia possesses, particularly the advantage of having time on their side, which we don’t. We acknowledge our mistakes and view them as opportunities for learning and growth. It’s evident that we lack the same depth as Australia, a fact I’m aware of, having previously, coached them a few years ago,” commented Plummer, who, at the age of 78, is scheduled to retire from the game in December.
Meanwhile, the captain of the Proteas, Bongiwe Msomi, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to participate in a crucial test match in Australia. She believes that by enhancing certain facets of their performance, they can ensure a competitive showdown in the second test.
Msomi is optimistic that the Proteas are in close contention with the world champions and not far from reaching their level.
“We lacked the same level of intensity, and true greatness can only be achieved competing against teams of their calibre. If we can consistently shift the scoreline in our favour, it has the potential to make for an intriguing competition,” remarked Msomi while in Australia.
