Namibia head for Mallorca
Beaten in Lisbon last weekend, Namibia now head for the island of Mallorca, their backs to the wall. There is nothing riding on the match except confidence.
The Biltongboere, the second best side in Africa after South Africa, are preparing for the 2011 World Cup and are using their trip to Europe as part of that preparation. They started with a defeat at the hands of Portugal who are not going to the World Cup. Spain are also not going and Namibia would not like to loose to them as well.
But coach Johan Diergaardt believes that the spirits are high and the team determined.
Sergio de la Harpe, the third brother to play for Namibian replaces injured McGrath van Wyk on the right wing. Flyhalf Jackie Bock has an eye infection and is replaced by Godwin Walters.
Hooker Shaun Esterhuizen is also injured and replaced by Bertus O’Callaghan and then experienced prop Jané du Toit has joined the side and will start on the bench which will have five versatile forwards.
Spain have lost Marcos Poggi, Lionel Pardo and Mattin Auzqui at the last minute. They have an remarkably inexperienced side. Javier Canosa has 33 caps and Ion Inausti 22 caps. Nobody else in the entire squad has double figures. prop Beñat Auzqui, hooker Stéphan Vitalla, loose forward Víctor Gómez, wing Andoni Jorajuría and fullback Sergi Aubanel are all uncapped. Rodrigo Martínez, who is 32, Alejandro Ortega, Hernán Quirelli, who is 31, Sébastien Rouet, Bruno Angulo and Diego A Gorosito each have just one cap.
Teams
Spain: 15 Mathieu Peluchon, 14 Diego Álvarez Gorosito, 13 Javier Canosa, 12 Bruno Angulo, 11 Sergi Aubanell, 10 Martín Heredia, 9 Sebastien Rouet, 8 Matthew Cook, 7 Martín Aceña (captain), 6 Gautier Gibouin, 5 Federico Negrillo, 4 Jesús Recuerda, 3 Jesús Moreno, 2 Beñat Auzqui, 1 Ion Insausti.
Replacements: 16 Rodrigo Martínez, 17 Stephan Vitalla, 18 Víctor Acevedo, , 19 Alejandro Ortega, 20 Hernán Quirelli, 21 Andoni Jorajuria, 22 Remi Delgado
Namibian squad: Jané du Toit, Casper Viviers, Marius Visser, Bertus O’Callaghan, Johannes Redelinghuys, Heinz Koll, Morné Blom, Nico Esterhuyse, Rohan Kitsoff, Jacques Nieuweinhuis, Jacques Burger (captain), Tinus du Plessis, Pieter-Jan van Lill, Eugene Jantjes, Colin de Koe, Ryan de la Harpe, Godwin Walters, Adriaan du Plessis, Piet van Zyl, Anthony Jevu, Darrel de la Harpe, Russel van Wyk, Conrad Marais, Sergio de La Harpe, Chrysander Botha
Date: 27 November 2010
Kick-off: 15.45 (GMT/UTC)
Venue: Estadio Príncipes de España, Palma de Mallorca
Expected weather conditions: 30% chance of rain, a high of 14°C , dropping to 2°C and an easterly wind of 18 km/h
Referee: João Mourinha (Portugal)
Assistant referees: Igotz Gallastegi (Spain) . Pedro Montoya (Spain)
