Netball: Shooting star poised for her century

Irene van Dyk will play her 100th test for New Zealand when the Silver Ferns meet Australia in the final match in Auckland tonight. Photo / Richard Robinson

In 1995, a little-known South African netballer dressed in a bandanna and bright red lipstick was the unlikely star of the World Championships in Birmingham.

The lofty goal-shoot never seemed to miss as she almost single-handedly killed the Silver Ferns' hopes of making the tournament final, leading South Africa to a one-goal victory.

It seems incredible to think that smiling assassin is the very same Irene van Dyk: New Zealand netball legend.

All going well - and Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken joked she would have to be a cruel coach to leave van Dyk stranded on 99 caps - the veteran sharpshooter will play her centennial test for New Zealand in tonight's final match against Australia in Auckland.

Van Dyk, already easily the world's most capped netballer with 171 tests to her name (72 of those for South Africa), said she never dreamed when she first put on the black dress for New Zealand in 2000 that she would still be around 99 tests later.

"I think everyone just rides the wave for as long as they can, and I don't think anyone anticipates they will go for 100. I'm one of the lucky ones that gets the opportunity," she said.

The 37-year-old, who has remained injury-free throughout her 15-year international career, credits her longevity in the sport to discovering the gym in her later years.

"When I came to New Zealand when I was 28 I realised 'oh my gosh, people actually train every day for this game'. I was like, holey moley, really? So because I started training quite late in my life and I haven't had injuries that's why I've lasted this long."

Van Dyk is not one to be able to recall the details of every match she has played in, but she remembers in vivid detail the first time she took the court for New Zealand in a one-off test against Australia in June 2000. The Wellington primary school teacher sat on the bench for the first half, with Donna Wilkins (Loffhagen at the time) and Belinda Colling starting. Despite a heavy 53-30 loss, van Dyk enjoyed every minute of it.

"It was incredible, my first test was against Australia and we got absolutely nailed. All the players came off and they were really disappointed, but I came off and I was just buzzing because I'd played my first test, which just goes to show how desperate I was to get out there."

While van Dyk can now look back on her first test for New Zealand with pride, the South African star's transition into the Silver Ferns certainly was not an easy one. Her decision to make herself available for New Zealand selection after one season playing for the Capital Shakers in the old Coca-Cola Cup met with fierce resistance from some fans and even players.

She was unwittingly cast at the centre of the debate over the International Netball Federation's flimsy eligibility rules, which, at the time, allowed a player to compete for one country one year and another the next.

Former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering, who ushered van Dyk into the national side, said she was always comfortable the star shooter switched allegiances for the right reasons. Van Dyk has steadfastly maintained she and husband Christie moved to New Zealand to bring up their daughter Bianca here.

"She had made a decision to live in New Zealand and playing for the Ferns was just a natural progression on from that," said Willering.

It is not the only period of controversy van Dyk has experienced in her 10 seasons with the Ferns. She has survived numerous calls for her head over the years, the most vociferous in 2007 when England ambushed the Silver Ferns 50-45 for only their second win over New Zealand in 32 years.

There were mutterings, too, last week when the Silver Ferns suffered their second loss in four days to Australia.

The 36-33 defeat was notable for van Dyk's uncharacteristically sub-par performance shooting only 73 per cent.

But in the weekend's fourth test in Invercargill, she bounced back with a 90 per cent game, missing only three shots from 30 attempts as New Zealand battled mightily only to see a last-minute turnover lose them the test.

Aitken believes what makes van Dyk such a special player is that she constantly strives to better herself.

"She's a legend and she absolutely deserves that iconic status," said Aitken. "The way she keeps reinventing herself and even after the disappointment of two tests ago, to have come back out and performed really well is a real credit to her. She takes great personal responsibility for her performance and that's wonderful."

IRENE VAN DYK

Career statistics
* Caps: 171 (NZ - 99; South Africa - 72)
* Silver Ferns debut June 20, 2000 v Australia in Newcastle (New Zealand lost 30-53)
* Test match shooting statistics (for New Zealand) - 3608/3990 goals (90 per cent)
* Van Dyk has not taken the court in just two tests the Silver Ferns have contested since her debut in 2000

The 100 club
* 171: Irene van Dyk (NZ - 99; South Africa - 72)
* 128: Kendra Slawinski (England)
* 122: Liz Ellis (Australia)
* 109: Lesley Rumball (New Zealand)
* 104: Vicki Wilson (Australia)
* 101: Sharelle McMahon (Australia)