WINDHOEK – Three new caps have been included in the Namibian national side to face Germany at the Trustco United field in Windhoek on Wednesday.
National coach Danie Vermeulen on Thursday included Free State Cheetahs hooker and captain, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Brive’s Tjuee Uanive and JC Greyling from Old Wesley RFC (Dublin, Ireland) in his squad of 23 for the one-off test match.
Van Jaarsveld and Uanive are in the starting line -up while Greyling is expected to earn his first cap coming off the bench.
The side will be captained by Western Province loose forward Rohan Kitshoff ,who will make his 17th test appearance for his country.
The 27-year old Van Jaarsveld was outstanding for the Free State Cheetahs this year and will start in his first test for the Welwitschias. “Torsten is a very good player and we are positive he will combine well with the locks to ensure quality possession from the line-outs. He is also a very good leader and with his experience will strengthen the team,” Vermeulen said on the inclusion of Van Jaarsveld.
The Namibian coach was also very excited about 24-year old Uanive getting his first opportunity for the national side. “I can’t wait to see him in action. He is an incredible athlete and will make a big contribution in the line-outs, especially on the opposition’s ball.”
On the possible debut for Greyling, the coach was equally pleased. “He has been playing good rugby in Ireland and we were monitoring him for a while now. I am keen to see what he can do at the next level,” Vermeulen said.
“It is a huge opportunity for Shaun to show us that we have depth in the number 10 jersey for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He has his future in his own hands and I am confident he will make the best of it,” Vermeulen said.
The nine foreign-based players would start joining the squad over the weekend. Vermeulen was confident they would slot in with ease. “Rohan Kitshoff, Theuns Kotze and Danie Dames have been part of our set-up on a regular basis since 2013, they know the structures and will make the transition to the national squad without any problems.”
Western Suburbs flyhalf Shaun Kaizemi (above) will get his second cap after making his debut eleven months ago against Kenya at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek.
The test match is expected to be a very tough encounter for Namibia before they head off on their Northern Hemisphere tour which kicks off on November 7 against Canada in Colwyn Bay, Wales.
The team to face Germany in Windhoek: (number of caps in brackets – * denotes new cap)
15. Danie Dames (8)
14. Malcolm Moore (1)
13. Darryl de la Harpe (21)
12. Johan Deysel (4)
11. Johan Tromp (8)
10. Shaun Kaizemi (1)
09. Ryan de la Harpe (6)
08. Tinus du Plessis (38)
07. Thomasua Forbes (2)
06. Rohan Kitshoff (16, Captain)
05. Tjuee Uanive (0*)
04. Nico Esterhuyzen (30)
03. André Schlechter (9)
02. Torsten van Jaarsveld (0*)
01. Jaco Engels (7)
Replacements
16. Rathony Becker (9)
17. Johnnie Redelinghuys (41)
18. Casper de Viviers (4)
19. Morne Blom (12)
20. Stefan Neustadt (5)
21. Eneill Buitendag (7)
22. Theuns Kotze (16)
23. JC Greyling (0*)