Namibia ready for Nations Cup
Namibia have selected their team for Friday's Nations Cup opener against Argentina's Jaguars in Bucharest.
Coach Danie Vermeulen has made six changes and one positional switch to the team that defeated Tunisia 22-14 in Nabeul.
In the front row, St. Naziere prop Casper Viviers will start at prop while hooker DG Wiese moves from the bench to the starting line-up.
Thinus du Plessis and Janco Venter – who last played for Namibia in 2013 against Kenya in Windhoek – will join captain PJ van Lill in the back row. The pair replaces Roderique Victor, who drops out of the matchday 23, and Levene Damens – who has been benched.
Scrumhalf Eugene Jantjies will earn his 39th cap – his first appearance in the Namibian jumper since November 2013. David Philander moves from the right to the left wing while Russel van Wyk – who joined the team in Bucharest – got the nod at right wing to replace Conrad Marais, who also drops out of the matchday squad.
Props Johnnie Redelinghuys and AJ de Klerk, who also joined up with the team in the Romanian capital, will add much needed bulk and power to the Namibian scrum from the bench while Jaco Engels is rested for the match against the South Americans.
Namibia: 15 Johan Tromp, 14 Russel van Wyk, 13 Danie van Wyk, 12 JC Greyling, 11 David Philander, 10 Theuns Kotzè, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 PJ van Lill (captain), 7 Janco Venter, 6 Thinus du Plessis, 5 Nico Esterhuyze, 4 Uanive Tjiuee, 3 Johannes Coetzee, 2 DG Wiese, 1 Casper Viviers.
Replacements: 16 Rathony Bekker, 17 Johnny Redelinghuys, 18 AJ de Klerk, 19 Leneve Damens, 20 Thomasua Forbes, 21 Eneill Buitendag, 22 Shawn Kazemi, 23 Heinrich Smit.
Date: Friday, June 12
Venue: Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Kick-off: 17.00 (14.00 GMT, 16.00 Namibia Time, 11.00 ART)
Referee: TBC
