Welwitschias head coach Allister Coetzee has called up Lloyd Jacobs as a replacement for the injured Le Roux Malan for the remaining two matches of the 2023 Rugby World Cup currently underway in France.
In a media statement made available to New Era Sport on Sunday, the Namibia Rugby Union said Jacobs will join the squad after Malan suffered an unfortunate fibula fracture in the match against New Zealand last Friday.
The injured Malan remained in Toulouse, where it was reported that he had undergone successful surgery and will be under the care of representatives from Namibia.
“We are missing Le Roux; it leaves a void, but this provides an opportunity for someone else. We have called Lloyd Jacobs from Kudu’s Rugby Club to join the team. He did well during the Mzansi Challenge and was involved in our last preparatory match against the Vodacom Bulls,” Coetzee said.
The coach added that Jacobs fully understands the way the team plays, even though he does not exactly cover Le Roux Malan.
He noted that the Welwitschias have JC Greyling, who can cover at 13, and captain Johan Deysel, who can cover at 12.
“We then have Alcino Izaacs, Danco Burger, and Johan Deysel, who can still cover those positions for us. The winger Divan Rossouw can cover the left wing, and that is where Lloyd can come in and cover the full-back and winger,” he explained.
There are a few players who suffered knocks in the match against New Zealand, including Adriaan Booysen, who took a big blow to his shoulder during the game. The team awaits medical feedback after an MRI was scheduled for yesterday.
Other players, like Richard Hardwick, Wian Conradie, and Deysel, are managing soreness after the match.
“The boys have picked up a few niggles; the only two concerns are with the two loose forwards, Wian Conradie and Adriaan Booysen, but we will be able to have a clearer picture of them towards the end of the day (Monday),” Coetzee said.
Namibia will face hosts France on 19 September before playing the final game against Uruguay in September 2023. -NRU