The Namibia Rugby Union has named the first 15 players to face Italy in the country’s opening match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup tomorrow at the Geoffroy-Guchard Stadium in Saint-Éttienne, France.
Coach Allister Coetzee has stuck with his tried-and-tested players, most of whom played the three preparatory matches in South America last month.
Desiderius Sethie will start at loosehead prop alongside vice captain Torsten van Jaarsveld at hooker and Aranos Coetzee at tighthead prop.
The second row will have Adriaan Ludick at lock, besides Tjiuee Uanivi.
Experienced Wian Conradie will start as a blindside flanker, while Johan Retief will be an open side flanker, and new boy Richard Hardwick will be at number eight.
Hardwick was born in Namibia on 31 May 1994, but raised in Western Australia. He is currently playing for the Melbourne Rebels and previously played for the Force in Super Rugby, and the Perth Spirit in the National Rugby Championship. His usual position is flanker.
For the backs, Coetzee decided to go with Damian Stevens as scrum half, while Tiaan Swanepoel is at scrum half, with JC Greyling at left wing and Gerswin Mouton at right wing.
Utility player Danco Burger will be inside centre, while outside centre will be occupied by captain Johan Deysel.
Five of the players from the starting XV will be playing Italy for the second time after the first match of the 2019 World Cup tournament in Japan, where Italy emerged 47-22 victors.
Meanwhile, Italy have made two changes from their side, bringing in English-born lock Dino Lamb and prop Danilo Fischetti to their starting XV.
Lamb has replaced Niccolo Cannone, who is not in the matchday 23, while Fischetti comes in for Ivan Nemer. The latter has dropped to the bench.
Loose forward Michele Lamaro will captain the side.
They also retain five players for the match in Japan in 2019.
Namibia goes into their seventh World Cup tournament seeking their first victory in the finals and is placed in Group A alongside hosts France, New Zealand, and Uruguay.
- Additional reporting www.supersport.com
Italy team:
15-Tommaso Allan, 14-Ange Capuozzo, 13-Juan Ignacio Brex, 12-Luca Morisi, 11-Montanna Ioane, 10-Paolo Garbisi, 9-Stephen Varney, 8-Lorenzo Cannone, 7-Michele Lamaro (captain), 6-Sebastian Negri, 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Dino Lamb, 3-Simone Ferrari, 2-Giacomo Nicotera, 1-Danilo Fischetti