Welcome to the Superleague, Nicholé Taljaard

By Paul Prenderville

London Pulse fans have been waiting to see their new South African attack end star unleashed, and in Friday night’s victory over Team Bath, Nichole Taljaard showed what she is all about.

In the early rounds of the season it has been the defence that has taken the Pulse headlines, but Round 4 saw the attack end deliver. Taljaard was part of a shooting circle that missed just four of their 80 shots on the way to a franchise best ever goal total of 76 goals in the NSL.

Pulse are next in action at the Copper Box in Round 5 on Saturday March 16, when Severn Stars are the visitors. Tickets are available here as well as tickets for all London Pulse home games in 2024.

Olivia Tchine and Berri Neil have started all four games, as Taljaard has been eased into life in the Superleague following her move from South Africa.

On as a halftime replacement for Neil she linked up brilliantly with Tchine first, before Neil returned to the court and the combination between the two players was equally impressive on a record breaking night.

“It’s exciting to be part of an historic moment,” Taljaard told us after the game.

“So amazing to play alongside another goal attack, some movements in the circle Berri understands where to go and I know where she wants to go.

“I’ve told her off court as well, she listens so well and reacts so quickly so to be able to say something and you know it’s going to happen immediately.

“She’s a really intelligent player and whether I’m shooting or playing goal attack I really enjoyed it.”

The feeling was mutual, even in the early days of pre-season. Neil, who has enjoyed a formidable partnership with Tchine, told us how much the team was looking forward to linking up with Taljaard.

“I met her today,” Neil said at the Pulse media day earlier this year.

“I’ve seen her playing for South Africa and she is amazing, so quick on the ball, creative with her movement. She will slot right into the group and we are excited to have her.”

Rewind to the off-season and Sam Bird needed to freshen her attacking options behind her England Roses duo of Neil and Tchine following the departures of Sacha McDonald & Chelsea Pitman.

Brie Grierson is a familiar face, but Taljaard is new to not only Pulse but also the Superleague, and offers options at Goal Attack and Goal Shooter as she showed on Friday.

At 26, she arrives in the Superleague at the peak of her career and also ready to sample club netball outside of her homeland for the first time and the intensity of a league campaign that will last five months of the year.

It’s a big move at a big moment for Taljaard, and Bird knows what she can expect from the attacker.

“When you are putting together a squad, that is what you are looking forward to – that ability to change things up in a match.

“Nichole was outstanding at World Cup for South Africa, a real emerging talent and hardworking athlete

“It is a really good opportunity for her to play semi professional netball over a long period of time which is something she has never done.

“She is newly married so it is a really exciting year for her.”

Having made her South Africa debut at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Manchester she is back in the UK and coming off the 2023 Netball World Cup where she announced herself to the world.

Her silky smooth playing style was already evident, but she showed remarkable poise to sink the equalising goal in the dying seconds of South Africa’s draw with New Zealand – as Jade Clarke was quick to point out.

QUOTE BOX “I think we had already signed her by the time the World Cup was on and everyone could see what she could do – a real pressure shot against New Zealand and everyone was talking about her.” Jade Clarke

Bird has made it clear the full squad of 12 will have their part of play as the games stack up, and Friday was evidence of the strength that exists in the Pulse ranks as they moved up to fourth in the table.

Grierson and Jeresia McEachrane also increased their minutes for the season with extended game time against Bath, while Darcie Everitt also enjoyed a breakout performance and Centre Izzi Phillips has also made her mark.

With three wins in a row, and games coming up against Severn Stars, Cardiff Dragons, Leeds Rhinos and Strathclyde Sirens there likely to be plenty more to see from Taljaard and her follow new faces.