THE 2023 Netball World Cup is almost here, and to help count down to the tournament we here at Rookie Me Central will be previewing all the competing teams and seeing how they might fair at the tournament.

Today it is all about the tournament hosts South Africa.

HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA AT THE NETBALL WORLD CUP

South Africa will be making history at this World Cup, becoming the first African nation to host the tournament.

It will also be looking to defy history, as it has been a while since it has made the top three at the tournament.

It did finish fourth at the last World Cup, but has not won a medal at the tournament since its second place finish at the 1995 tournament, which is also its best ever result.

RECENT HISTORY

The South Africans will also be looking to do better than they did at the Quad Series they hosted earlier this year.

Finishing fourth out of four teams, the SPAR Proteas will be frustrated they were unable to pick up at least one win against the English Roses during the tournament.

With no other international matches since then, time will tell if they have been able to turn things around.

KEY PLAYERS

Led by Bongiwe Msomi, the South Africans certainly have plenty of experience among their line up.

One of those is Karla Pretorius, who made a return to netball at both a domestic and international level this year after some maternity leave and does not look like she has had any time off.

Fellow defender Shadine Van der Merwe is coming off a strong Netball Super League, where she had Lenize Potgieter as a teammate, who appeared to have a rejuvenation at the Thunder. After some troubling times towards the end of her domestic career in Australia, Potgieter is happy playing netball and playing some great netball again.

Ine-Mari Venter is also a key cog in the South African shooting circle, and will work in tandem with Potgieter to provide that tall target in the circle.

SOUTH AFRICA FIXTURE (start times local)

Friday 28th July – 6pm – Wales

Saturday 29th July – 4pm – Sri Lanka

Sunday 30th July – 6pm – Jamaica

SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD

Bongiwe Msomi, Karla Pretorius, Khanyisa Chawane, Izette Griesel, Phumza Maweni, Lenize Potgieter, Nicola Smith, Jeante Strydom, Nichole Taljaard, Elmere van der Berg, Shadine van der Merwe and Ine-Mari Venter

Reserves: Owethu Ngubane, Refiloe Nketsa and Lefebre Rademan