Namibia v Italy - Teams and Prediction

PREVIEW: Flanker Prince !Gaoseb will captain Namibia when they host Italy in Windhoek on Friday.

A host of injuries and players not available due to club commitments have forced Jacques Burger, the Director of Rugby, to make wholesale changes from the side that lost to the Pumas last weekend.

The last time these two teams met was at the World Cup in 2023, when the Italians won 52-8 in a one-sided affair.

This is the first stop on Italy’s tour to South Africa, where they will face the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld on July 5 in the first of two Tests (July 12, Gqeberha).

Italy’s coach Gonzalo Quesada named a squad of 33 – including seven uncapped players and a recall from the Test wilderness for Paolo Odogwu – for their tour.

Nine players who started against Ireland in Italy’s last match on March 15 have been omitted from the training squad.

This list consists of prop Simone Ferrari, hooker Gianmarci Lucchesi, locks Dino Lamb and Federico Ruzza, half-backs Martin Page-Rolo and Paolo Garbisi, midfielder Juan Ignacio Brex, and winger Ange Capuzzo and full-back Tommaso Allan. Former skipper Michele Lamaro, a round five sub at Stadio Olimpico, is also absent.

The experienced hooker Giacomo Nicotera will captain the Italians.

The match is also the final preparation for Namibia before the Africa Cup in Uganda, which will take place from July 8-19, 2025.

The tournament will also serve as a qualification event for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Cheetahs prop, Aranos Coetzee, who has represented Namibia at three World Cups, is back in the team as is hooker, Louis van der Westhuizen.

They replace Jason Benade and Armand Combrinck, who both move to the bench.

Johan Retief, who went to two World Cups with the Welwitschias and currently plays in Russia, comes in at lock in place of Ruan Ludick, who moves to the bench, while the latter’s younger brother, Adriaan Ludick, replaces Oliver Kurz at lock.

The rest of the pack shows a lot of experience with the loose trio of captain !Gaoseb, Max Katjijeko, and Adriaan Booysen all having represented Namibia at the World Cup.

Amongst the backs, Tiaan Swanepoel, who represented Namibia at the 2023 World Cup, comes in at flyhalf in place of Andre van der Berg, with the latter moving to fullback in place of Cliven Loubser.

The only other change sees Alcino Izaacs returning at centre in place of Danie van der Merwe, who moves to right wing.

The speedy Jacques Theron remains at scrumhalf, while Danco Burger, Jurgen Meyer and Danie van der Merwe, who all had promising performances against the Pumas, remain in the starting lineup.

Prediction:

@Rugby365: Italy by 14 points

Teams

Namibia: 15 Andre van der Berg, 14 Danie van der Merwe, 13 Alcino Izaacs, 12 Danco Burger, 11 Jurgen Meyer, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Jacques Theron, 8 Adriaan Booysen, 7 Max Katjijeko, 6 Prince !Gaoseb, 5 Johan Retief, 4 Adriaan Ludick, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Haitembi Shikufa.
Replacements: 16 Armand Combrinck, 17 Jason Benade, 18 Sidney Halupe, 19 Ruan Ludick, 20 Johan Luttig, 21 Peter Diergaardt, 22 Oela Blaauw, 23 Quirione Majiedt

Italy: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Paolo Odogwu, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Riccardo Favretto, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Giacomo Nicotera (captain), 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Tommasso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Lorenzo Cannone, 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Giulio Bertaccini, 23 Mirko Belloni

Date: Friday, June 27
Venue: Hage Geingob Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Morne Ferreira (SARU), Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)