Doubtlessly the toughest assignment awaits locally based players, as they seek to put up a sterling performance and raise their hands for inclusion in the final squad for the 2015 International Rugby World (IRB) Cup in England, later this year.
After a relatively wobbling start to their campaign in the highly competitive South African Provincial Vodacom Cup – the resurgent FNB Welwitschias will have to pull out all stops if they are to fashion another splendid result in the final match.
A tightly contested tussle is expected when the Namibian amateurs entertain the visiting Hino Falcons at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek tomorrow evening.
The hosts are in mean mood following their narrow but well-deserved 24-17 win over the Limpopo Blue Bulls and the question on many lips is: can the Welwitschias pull off another surprise and record back to back victories for the first time since joining forces with South Africa’s second-tier competition.
Though rugby pundits believe the team is a work-in-progress, the Welwitschias have their tails up after dispatching the much-fancied Limpopo Blue Bulls through a well-orchestrated commanding display a fortnight ago and should go into the match full of confidence.
Following heavy defeats in their opening two matches in the competition, the Namibian second strings have managed to dust themselves off and put up a gallant display against Griffons before narrowly going down 28-32.
Next up, the out-of-sorts Welwitschias were completely outplayed and outthought by the rampant Vodacom Blue Bulls, registering 44 unanswered points on the scoreboard.
In total, the Welwitschias have stood down 207 points with a paltry 32 to their credit after five rounds of matches.