Welwitchias ready to bloom
Namibia coach Johan Diergaardt has made seven changes for his team’s opening World Cup match against Fiji on Saturday from the line-up which lost to Georgia in the European Nations Cup in June.
Saracens flank Jacques Burger, one of the few fulltime professionals in the Namibian squad, has the highest profile of the incoming players after having helped the English club to the premiership. He will captain the side for the Pool D match at Rotorua International Stadium.
Wings Danie Dames and Conrad Marais, inside center Piet van Zyl, flyhalf Theuns Kotze, tighthead prop Raoul Larson and hooker Hugo Horn are the other new arrivals. There is one positional change, with Eugene Jantjies shifting from No. 10 to scrumhalf.
Western Province flank Rohan Kitshoff misses out on selection with Tinus du Plessis being preferred on the side of the scrum for the all-important first game.
The Namibians will be going all out to register their first-ever World Cup victory as Fiji could be their weakest opponents in what is a very strong pool.
Namibia: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Danie van Wyk, 12 Piet van Zyl, 11 Conrad Marais, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 7 Jacques Burger (captain), 6 Tinus du Plessis, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Heinz Koll, 3 Raoul Larson, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Johnnie Redelinghuys.
Replacements: 16 Bertus O’Callaghan, 17 Jane du Toit, 18 Pieter Jan van Lill, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Ryan de la Harpe, 21 Darryl de la Harpe, 22 Llewellyn Winkler.
Date: Saturday, September 10
Venue: Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
Kick-off: 15.30 (03.30 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Jérôme Garces (France)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
