South Africa's netball team know what is expected of them in their upcoming tour of Jamaica and are ready for the challenge.
Amanda Mynhardt, the Proteas captain, told the media on Wednesday they had learned from their mistakes after the Caribbean side thrashed them 72-45 in a World Cup group encounter in Singapore last year.
“In the World Cup we got a hiding from Jamaica, but we’ve done a lot of analysis on that game and have seen where we made our mistakes,” Mynhardt said.
“So we’ve adjusted and it's important we don’t make the same mistakes again.
“We're a strong netball country and we have the players and the talent, so I think the team is ready for Jamaica.”
The Proteas travel to Jamaica next week to play the world's fourth-ranked team in three Tests.
South Africa are ranked one place lower, in fifth, and are the highest placed amateur side after the top four professional teams – Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica.
“It is great that we’re playing three games so, with each game, we can improve,” Mynhardt said.
“After one Test, we can see where our mistakes are and fix them.
“Every time you play, you go for a win, so that will be our plan.
“We need to just focus on performing and then the scoreboard will take care of itself.”
Mynhardt has recently returned from a three-month stint in New Zealand, where she played for league club Collegiates, in Auckland, to gain experience.
She also received extra coaching from former New Zealand national coach Yvonne Willering.
“It was about learning a new style and new things about the game,” she said of her Kiwi experience.
“But it was mainly about being able to play every week, whereas in South Africa we don’t always get that opportunity.
“It was really nice getting all that court time and being able to practice all the things we did in training.”
Mynhardt, 26, who took over as SA captain in 2010, joins the squad on Friday for their three-day camp in Pretoria, prior to their departure.
“I worked with some of the girls yesterday (Tuesday) in Pretoria and we all know what is expected of us and we’re ready,” she said. – Sapa