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SA netball evolving: rival

AUSTRALIA'S longest- serving netball captain, Michelle den Dekker, says netball in South Africa has made great strides in the past 15 years.

Den Dekker, who was captain of the Australian team that beat Debbie Hamman's South African team in the final of the 1995 Netball World Championships, was speaking ahead of the coming Spar International Series between a SA Invitation team and the Australian Team of Excellence in Potchefstroom from October 12 to 18.

"The South Africans have become very competitive," said Den Dekker. "They are playing a harder style of one-on-one defence, which is making it more difficult for us."

Den Dekker, the head coach of the Netball Centre of Excellence in Canberra, said the series was important for Australia's future stars.

"They need to experience international travel and also playing against different teams with different styles," she said.

"Most of them have never played at altitude before, so that could be a challenge. But that is all part of the experience they need. We expect at least five senior players to retire after the World Championships in Sydney next year, so we are looking to players from this group to step up to the next level."

"The depth of netball in Australia is very strong, so I am confident that these players will do well."

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