Windhoek
The Namibian national rugby team, the Welwitschias, yesterday left for Tunisia where they will prepare for the 2015 Rugby World Cup before heading to Romania next Wednesday for a few international matches, which are all part of their three-week international tour.
Namibia will face Tunisia in Tunis on Saturday in an Africa Cup match, then travel to Romania for the annual Nations Cup where they play three matches – against the hosts Romania, Spain and the Argentinean Jaguars, respectively.
Namibian coach Danie Vermeulen selected a touring squad of 27 players, mostly locally based, as the tour matches do not fall within World Rugby’s international release window, starting on July 1.
England-based Aviva Premiership players Jacques Burger and Chrysander Botha were not considered while South African-based players Renaldo Bothma, Rohan Kitshoff, Johan Deysel, Thorsten van Jaarsveld and Danie Dames all have commitments with their franchises and clubs.
Vermeulen however selected Namibians playing club rugby in France – they include eighth-man PJ van Lill, flyhalf Theuns Kotze, lock Tjiuee Uanivi, wing Conrad Marais and prop Aranos Coetzee who will make his debut for the Welwitschias.
Vermeulen expects a big challenge. “We are preparing for a tough time – the conditions will be difficult and Tunisia at home will be a completely different proposition to what they were when we beat them 45-13 in Senegal in 2013.”
According to Vermeulen, the Nations Cup in Romania will be valuable preparation in the build-up to the World Cup.
“We play three matches at test match level. The pressure will be on and this is exactly what we will experience at the World Cup. A number of our players are not available and this is a chance for the younger players to show whether they can handle the pressure or not,” said Vermeulen.
Namibia’s fixtures leading up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup:
06 June, Tunis: Namibia vs Tunisia (Africa 1A)
12 June, Bucharest: Namibia vs Argentina (Nations Cup)
17 June, Bucharest: Namibia vs Romania (Nations Cup)
21 June, Bucharest: Namibia vs Spain (Nations Cup)
11 July, Windhoek: Namibia vs opponent (tbc) International friendly
18 July, Windhoek: Namibia vs opponent (tbc) International friendly
08 August, Windhoek: Namibia vs Kenya (Africa 1A)
15 August, Windhoek: Namibia vs Zimbabwe (Africa 1A)