After suffering a heavy 59-19 defeat at the hands of South Africa’s Airlink Pumas in a warm-up match over the weekend, Namibia’s Welwitschias have quickly turned their attention to a high-stakes international test match against Italy. 

The event is set for Saturday at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek. 

Despite the scoreboard telling a different story, Welwitschias scrumhalf Jacques Theron remained upbeat about the team’s performance. 

“We can be proud,” he said in a post-match interview. 

“The Pumas are a quality side. We showed up, we were physical, and we tried to match them. They are a well-drilled team, so credit to them. But playing a test match always excites me, and I hope we can fill the stadium this weekend,” he added. 

Saturday’s match offered valuable insights and experience for the Namibian side as they prepare for the upcoming Uganda Africa Rugby Cup. 

The Welwitschias found themselves under pressure early from the Pumas, who dominated with pace and precision. 

However, the Namibian players showed flashes of potential that will be crucial in the weeks ahead. 

One of the standout voices after the game was that of Jay-Cee Nel, the Namibian-born centre currently playing for the Airlink Pumas. 

Reflecting on the match, he acknowledged the physical nature of the clash. 

“We expected them to come at us hard, and they did. Namibia is always a physical team. Luckily, our boys pulled through,” he said. 

Nel, who is likely to rejoin the Namibian setup for the Africa Cup, expressed confidence in the squad’s chances. 

“I believe Namibia has a 100% chance of winning the Africa Rugby Cup. There’s a solid team in place and great coaching staff leading the way,” he added. 

Welwitschias assistant coach Darryl de la Harpe echoed similar optimism. 

“We took a lot out of this match. If we can carry this level of intensity into the Africa Cup, we’ll be in a good place. We put the players under pressure in training to simulate tough match conditions. 

“There’s a lot of positivity around the squad, and it’s encouraging to see many young players stepping up. For the test against Italy, we’ll have more of our international players available, which adds strength and depth to the team,” he said. 

The test against Italy will be Namibia’s final fixture before the Africa Cup, making it a crucial dress rehearsal for the continental showpiece. 

Earlier this month, the Welwitschias showed grit and composure in their first friendly match, edging out Uganda 22-19 in a thrilling encounter at Naartjie Park in Walvis Bay. 

-lmupetami@nepc.com.na