England Netball Star Helen Housby Sees Series Against South Africa as "Huge" Test, Grudge Match.
Helen Housby knows that every time England takes to the court against South Africa is a high-stakes battle. The Vitality Roses star sees her side's upcoming series with the SPAR Proteas in Johannesburg as an opportunity to prove themselves and make a statement ahead of the Commonwealth Games next year.
"It's always a grudge match when we play them," Housby said, reflecting on England's long-standing rivalry with South Africa. "They have some amazing players and they can be super disciplined with the way they play the game - just ranked below us in the world stage. So it's always a big test for us."
South Africa has traditionally been one of England's toughest opponents, with both teams consistently competing at the highest level and frequently finishing as top-four teams at major championships.
"We know how great they can be on home soil," Housby noted, acknowledging the Proteas' strong support base in Johannesburg. "They always have incredible crowds, and Jo'burg itself can be a challenging venue to play in - it's got a bit of elevation which sometimes affects your breathing."
But England will relish the opportunity to face South Africa under intense pressure, with the series coming just weeks before the Commonwealth Games.
"For us, starting off the year on a high note is really important," Housby said. "Getting some good wins on the board would be huge, but more than that, solidifying our combinations and nailing how we want to play as a team to start off 2026 is super important."
With the stakes so high, England will need to draw on their experience and composure if they are to outshine their South African opponents. Housby, who has faced many of her Protea rivals before, is relishing the challenge.
"The great crowd, the arena that we're going to be playing in - it almost feels like they're on top of you and the pressure is huge," she said. "I love that. I love feeling those big occasions. It's always super special, but it does make it very difficult to come here and play at your best."
For Housby and her teammates, this series represents a crucial test of their readiness for the Commonwealth Games, which England are determined to win. As they prepare to take on South Africa in Johannesburg, one thing is clear: only time will tell if England can emerge victorious against their long-time rivals.
Helen Housby knows that every time England takes to the court against South Africa is a high-stakes battle. The Vitality Roses star sees her side's upcoming series with the SPAR Proteas in Johannesburg as an opportunity to prove themselves and make a statement ahead of the Commonwealth Games next year.
"It's always a grudge match when we play them," Housby said, reflecting on England's long-standing rivalry with South Africa. "They have some amazing players and they can be super disciplined with the way they play the game - just ranked below us in the world stage. So it's always a big test for us."
South Africa has traditionally been one of England's toughest opponents, with both teams consistently competing at the highest level and frequently finishing as top-four teams at major championships.
"We know how great they can be on home soil," Housby noted, acknowledging the Proteas' strong support base in Johannesburg. "They always have incredible crowds, and Jo'burg itself can be a challenging venue to play in - it's got a bit of elevation which sometimes affects your breathing."
But England will relish the opportunity to face South Africa under intense pressure, with the series coming just weeks before the Commonwealth Games.
"For us, starting off the year on a high note is really important," Housby said. "Getting some good wins on the board would be huge, but more than that, solidifying our combinations and nailing how we want to play as a team to start off 2026 is super important."
With the stakes so high, England will need to draw on their experience and composure if they are to outshine their South African opponents. Housby, who has faced many of her Protea rivals before, is relishing the challenge.
"The great crowd, the arena that we're going to be playing in - it almost feels like they're on top of you and the pressure is huge," she said. "I love that. I love feeling those big occasions. It's always super special, but it does make it very difficult to come here and play at your best."
For Housby and her teammates, this series represents a crucial test of their readiness for the Commonwealth Games, which England are determined to win. As they prepare to take on South Africa in Johannesburg, one thing is clear: only time will tell if England can emerge victorious against their long-time rivals.
OMG I'm so hyped for this series!!! Helen Housby is literally the queen of netball and I know she's gonna crush it against South Africa 
! The fact that they're playing under intense pressure leading up to the Commonwealth Games only adds to the excitement 
. I love how she's talking about solidifying their team combinations and nailing their gameplay - that's all we need from England right now 
. It's gonna be a tough series, but I'm rooting for them all the way 
! They're gonna come out on top and show everyone what they're made of 
.
no pressure or anything but i genuinely think south africa are gonna be super gassed and england's gonna come out on top 
They’ve been competing at the top level for years and everyone knows how tough each other can be. Does South Africa really need to be called out like that? 
Also, I don’t think it’s just about getting some good wins on the board, it feels like they want to prove themselves before the Commonwealth Games so badly 
. It’s gonna be a close series for sure 
Also, I'm not convinced by the whole "they have some amazing players and they can be super disciplined" thing... where are these stats coming from? Can we see some credible sources on this? 
anyway back to this south africa vs england series... i think its gonna be super intense 
️ helen housby seems like a really cool player btw 
whats with all the elevation thing tho? does it really affect breathing that much? 
also can anyone tell me how long is a netball match again? 
i'm not surprised that helen housby is hyped for this series, south africa is definitely one of england's toughest opponents 
️ I swear, their bulgogi beef was so tender it just melted in my mouth. And the kimchi! Oh man, that stuff is spicy... not sure if I can handle a whole bowl of it, but I love dipping my rice into it 
anyway, just thought I'd share my carb coma with you all 