Namibia change four
Namibia has made four changes and a positional switch ahead of their clash with Portugal from the starting XV that lost 13-17 to Canada two weeks ago.
Props Franklin Bertholini and Casper Viviers get their first start of the tour, after regulars Johnnie Redelinghuys and Andrè Schlechter returned home for personal reasons, while their replacements Shaun du Preez and Quintin Esterhuyzen have been drafted straight onto the replacement bench.
The pair joined up with the team in Carcavelos, Portugal on Wednesday evening.
Loose forward Thomasua Forbes will start in the No.7 jersey to earn his 4th cap for the Welwitchias.
Stand-in coach Henry Kemp said the Western Suburbs flank was included to allow Namibia to be more competitive at the breakdown.
"Thomasua had a very good match against Germany in Windhoek last month and also made a difference when he came on as replacement against the French Barbarians in Toulon last Friday. He is very mobile, has a high work rate and we hope he will give us an edge at the breakdown," he said.
In the backline Danie Dames moves from wing to his more familiar position at fullback, replacing the injured Chrysander Botha. Johan Tromp who played 72 minutes against Canada comes into the starting-line-up.
Kemp said all the changes were forced, through injury (Chrysander Botha) or the unavailability of players (Jacques Burger, Johnnie Redelinghuys and Andrè Schlechter).
"We wanted to maintain continuity, the players did well against Canada and we believe this team is the best possible one we could have selected for the match against Portugal," he added.
Namibia: 15 Danie Dames, 14 David Philander, 13 Johan Deysel, 12 Darryl Da La Harpe, 11 Johan Tromp, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Ryan Da La Harpem, 8 PJ van Lill, 7 Thomasua Forbes, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Tjuee Uanive, 4 Morne Blom, 3 Casper Viviers, 2 Torsten Van Jaarsveld, 1 Franklin Bertholini.
Replacements: 16 Rathony Becker, 17 Shaun de Preez, 18 Quintin Esterhuyzen, 19 DG Wiese, 20 Stefan Neustädt, 21 Eneill Buitendag, 22 Shaun Kaizemi, 23 JC Greyling.
Date: Saturday, November 22
Venue: Estadio Nacional Jamor, Lisbon
Kick-off: 15.00 (15.00 GMT, 17.00 Namibia Time)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy), Vlad Iordachescu (Romania)
