The Spar Proteas are set to face off against the Silver Ferns in the 2025 Taimi Janison Trophy in a three international test-match South Africa vs New Zealand thriller, kicking off at the Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, on Sunday, 23 September 2025.
The last time the two nations clashed was during the 2023 Netball World Cup, a thrilling match that ended in a first-ever draw between the teams.
Coach Jenny van Dyk and her charges arrived in Auckland on Sunday evening, and the team almost immediately got down to business with a few training sessions under the belt.
Van Dyk selected a 15-player team for this series and has confirmed that the team is ready to take to court, do well, and make the nation proud, including the new players that have been called up to the team.
Talk around the opposition camp – following the standing down of their head coach Dame Noeline Taurua and her assistants Debbie Fuller and Briony Akle – has become extra motivation for the Proteas, as it is not yet clear how this news would affect the Silver Ferns.
“We will not allow the news from Silver Ferns to make us relax, because this could go either way,” said Van Dyk. “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,” said Head Coach Jenny van Dyk.
“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.”
Spar Proteas Head Coach, Jenny van Dyk
The Spar Proteas would be looking to get only their second win against their opponents, with New Zealand enjoying 36 wins in 38 matches, one draw and suffering only a solitary loss. When considering the rivalry between the two countries across various sporting codes, a win in Auckland for South Africa is one Coach van Dyk would savour most.
From a playing personnel, Shadine van der Merwe makes a welcomed return to the team for the first time since the 2023 Netball World Cup and will step into the vice captaincy. Nozipho Ntshangase also makes a return to the side, while Entle Futshane and Juanita van Tonder are the only uncapped players.
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South Africa go into this series as underdogs. However, Coach van Dyk understands that the tag also comes with its own pressures: “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,” concluded van Dyk.
For the first time in a while, South Africa has a total of eight players in the current squad who play their netball professionally overseas.
The coaching duo of van Dyk and Mdodana believe that this bodes well for the team. These players bring in a wealth of knowledge and experience into the team. Information and knowledge sharing make them a formidable team and give them a good headache in terms of selection.
Spar Proteas Squad for the 2025 Taimi Janison Trophy
Khanyisa Chawane
Nicholé Breedt
Entle Futshane
Kamogelo Maseko
Tarle Mathe
Owethu Ngubane
Refiloe Nketsa
Nozipho Ntshangase
Nicola Smith
Rolene Streutker
Elmeré van der Berg
Shadine van der Merwe
Juanita van Tonder
Jamie van Wyk
Sanmarie Visser
Team Management
Head Coach – Jenny van Dyk
Assistant Coach – Zanele Mdodana
Team Manager – Vinolia Austin
Physio – Motheo Selebedi
Doctor – Lindi Mokwena
2025 Taimi Janison Trophy Fixtures
Sun, 21 Sep – 09:40: First Test – New Zealand v South Africa (Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland)
Wed, 24 Sep – 09:40: Second Test – New Zealand v South Africa (Pettigrew Green Arena, Napier)
Sun, 28 Sep – 09:40: Third Test – New Zealand v South Africa (ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill)
All matches will be televised on SuperSport (channel to be confirmed)
Selected South Africa vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Stats
2017 = New Zealand 70-39 South Africa (London)
2017 = New Zealand 63-56 South Africa (Brisbane)
2018 = New Zealand 51-46 South Africa (Johannesburg)
2018 = New Zealand 61-37 South Africa (Tauranga)
2019 = New Zealand 62-60 South Africa (London
2020 = New Zealand 48-41 South Africa (London)
2022 = New Zealand 54-43 South Africa (London)
2022 = New Zealand 51-50 South Africa (London)
2023 = New Zealand 61-41 South Africa (Cape Town)
2023 = South Africa 48-48 New Zealand (Cape Town)
Original Copy: Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Coach Jenny van Dyk and her team management will be going all out against the odds to secure a rare win over the Silver Ferns in the 3-Test Taimi Janison Trophy series, in New Zealand from Sunday, 21 to Sunday, 28 September, 2025. All Photos and Graphics: Netball SA
Photo 2 Caption: Coach van Dyk has selected a squad brimming with international talent, as well as uncapped talent in Entle Futshane and Juanita van Tonder.
