Namibia RWC 2011

[Melhor Time]

Guys, check out my preview for Namibia at NZ 2011.

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In brief:

- The African side will lose all four matches and all by bonus point scores.

- Despite not being as good as some teams who have not qualified like Portugal, Spain and Uruguay they have nontheless improved since France 2007, albeit not by enough. Namibia are at the RWC due to Africa 1 getting given direct qualification. Something not fair going off IRB World Rankings and the teams history at Rugby World Cup´s.

- Too few elite players. Only one world class player (Jacques Burger) who is as good as any backrower in the Aviva Premiership.

- The team did well to win the IRB Nations Cup in Romania in 2010 but did so against sides not fielding most first choice players. Nonetheless, the victory is something very noteworthy.

My squad

15 Chrysander Botha*
14 McGrath van Wyk*
13 Piet van Zyl (Bourgoin â€" France)
12 Adrian du Plessis *
11 Heini Bock*
10 Jacques Bock*
9 Eugene Jantjies*
8 Tinnus Du Plessis*
7 Jacques Nieuwenhuis (Aurillac â€" France)
6 Jacques Burger (Saracens â€" England)
5 Nico Esterhuize*
4 Heinz Koll*
3 Marius Visser (Border â€" South Africa)
2 Shaun Esterhuizen*
1 Johnny Redlinghuys*

Reserves: 16 Hugo Horn* , 17 Casper Vivers (Cahors â€" FRA), 18 Morne Blom* , 19 PJ van Lill* , 20 Colin de Koe* , 21 Godwin Walters* , 22 Tinus Venter*.

23 Egbertus O´Callaghan*, 24 Jané du Toit *, 25 Munee Tijueza* 26 Rohan Kitshoff*, 27 Pieter Myburgh*, 28 Sergio de la Harpe* , 29 Darryl de la Harpe* , 30 Attie du Plessis*

*Welwitschias players (Vodacom Cup)

Players to watch out for

The stars: Jacques Burger, Jacques Nieuwenhuis, Marius Visser and Piet van Zyl.

Others who could impress: Casper Vivers and Chysander Botha.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Great stuff mate, hope they can win a game.

 

[LittleGuy]

I think this Namibian squad could beat Spain and possibly Uruguay, Portugal would be slightly superior though. I assume Namibia will be "targeting" the Samoa game as the one they hope to keep close although even this will be difficult.

It was a tough draw for them getting placed in the pool of death I hope and think we are not going to see them lose 142-0 like in 2003. The game vs. South Africa could get very lopsided but not to that degree.

 

[dragos03]

I watched Namibia last year, also their few players that play for Romanian clubs, and I think they are not that bad. They would beat Spain for sure,and maybe win against Uruguay or Portugal as well. While it's true that their victories in the 2010 IRB Nations Cup came against teams that did not field their best XV, it was still impressive and totally unexpected.

 

[Melhor Time]

I watched Namibia last year, also their few players that play for Romanian clubs, and I think they are not that bad. They would beat Spain for sure,and maybe win against Uruguay or Portugal as well. While it's true that their victories in the 2010 IRB Nations Cup came against teams that did not field their best XV, it was still impressive and totally unexpected.

They are not bad, not at all. Jacques Burger is a world class player. Would make virtually any test side. The issue is too few pro players which will see them go down by big scores. Professionalism is everything. It has seen the USA turn around loses to Uruguay eight years ago to now winning by 30 points. Thats simply amazing but a reflection of Uruguay having one player at the top and the USA over five getting regular time in the Top 14, Aviva Premiership or Magners League. Namibia, like Uruguay, have one player.

Namibia lost 33-20 to Spain in November 2010. They also lost 24-12 vs Portugal. Russia defeated Namibia 30-15 in 2009. Make no mistake they are at the World Cup for one reason - Africa´s automatic spot. Namibia had no walk in the park qualifying. They drew 13-13 with Cote d´Ivoire in a qualifying match in 2009 (see the video on my previous post).

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The problem with Namibia is that they have a population of about 2 million with only really the Afrikaans speaking population (+/- 150 000) interested in rugby if at all. And if you work out what percentage of that population are males between the ages of say 20 and 35 and you are left with a pretty iffy pool of players to choose from. The effect of that small amount of interest/players combined with the distances involved in scouting/training (much of that relevant population are farmers on huge semi-arid grazing farms) is that there is no local tournament worth mentioning thus no real chance of improvement.

 

[psychic duck]

is Skipper Badenhorst going to turn up this time?

Rohan Kitshoff has been playing for the Stormers hasn't he?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

is Skipper Badenhorst going to turn up this time?

Rohan Kitshoff has been playing for the Stormers hasn't he?

I really hope both do turn up as they probably have 0 chance to make the Springboks and I am sure would opt to play in a RWC. Is Corne Uys at the Cheetahs also not Namibian? He had a great game for the Cheetahs last week and the week before against SBW. As far as the minnows go, namibia probably has the toughest pool and probably wouldn't stand a chance at a win this RWC. Then again, neither would Spain, Uruguay etc.

 

[psychic duck]

I really hope both do turn up as they probably have 0 chance to make the Springboks and I am sure would opt to play in a RWC. Is Corne Uys at the Cheetahs also not Namibian?

yes, I'm sure there must a few South African professionals who are eligible for Namibia, I don't know whether Corné Uys is Namibian but I know big bald prop who used to play for the Bulls is eligible for Namibia yet has never played

 

[cyRil]

The 3 teams I play with in Rugby 06 (against the irrepressible Neil James) are Namibia, Spain and Uruguay so you just watch it sonny!!!!

 

[Darwin]

Namibia Rugby World Cup Squad named:

Backs: Johannes Bock, Chrysander Botha, Hendirk Dames, Darryl de la Harpe, Ryan de la Harpe, Eugene Janjties, Theuns Kotze, Tertius Losper, Conrad Marais, David Philander, Llelwellyn Winkler, Daniel van Wyk, Mcgrath van Wyk, Willem van Zyl


Forwards: Jacques Burger (capt), Egbertus O'Callerghan, Nico Esterhuyse, Hendrik Franken, Hugo Horn, Uakazuvara Kazombiaze, Rohan Kitshoff, Heinze Koll, Raol Larson, Pieters van Lill, Jacques Nieuwenhuis, Reaud van Neel, Tinus du Plessis, Johannes Redelinghuys, Johannes du Toit, Marius Visser