WINDHOEK – The Namibian Rugby Union has named a strong 23-member squad to face Portugal at the University of Lisbon tomorrow in the final match of their Windhoek Draught Northern Hemisphere Tour.
The starting line-up shows four changes and one positional switch from the team that lost to Canada two weeks ago in Colwyn Bay, Wales.
Prop-forwards Franklin Bertholini and Casper Viviers get their first start on the tour after regulars Johnnie Redelinghuys and Andrè Schlechter returned home for personal reasons while their replacements Shaun du Preez and Quintin Esterhuyzen have been drafted straight onto the substitutes bench. The pair joined up with the team in Carcavelos, Portugal earlier this week.
Loose-forward Thomasua Forbes starts at number 7-jersey to earn his fourth cap for Namibia. Stand-in coach, Henry Kemp, said the Western Suburbs flanker was included to allow Namibia to be more competitive at the breakdown.
“ Thomasua had a very good match against Germany in Windhoek and also made a difference when he came on against the French Barbarians in Toulon last Friday. He is very mobile, has a high work rate and we hope he will give us an edge at the breakdown.”
In the back-line, Danie Dames moves from wing to his more familiar position at fullback – replacing the injured Chrysander Botha. Johan Tromp who played 72 minutes against Canada also comes into the starting-line-up.
Kemp said all the changes were enforced as an assortment of injuries and players unavailability – that renders the likes of Chrysander Botha, Jacques Burger, Johnnie Redelinghuys and Andrè Schlechter notable absentees.
“We wanted to maintain continuity, the players did well against Canada and we believe this team is the best possible one we could have selected for the match against Portugal.”
Welwitschias’ starting lineup against Portugal is as follows:
1. Franklin Bertholini
2. Torsten Van Jaarsveld
3. Casper Viviers
4. Morne Blom
5. Tjuee Uanive
6. Rohan Kitshoff
7. Thomasua Forbes
8. PJ van Lill
9. Ryan Da La Harpe
10. Theuns Kotze
11. Johan Tromp
12. Darryl Da La Harpe
13. Johan Deysel
14. David Philander
15. Danie Dames
16. Rathony Becker
17. Shaun de Preez
18. Quintin Esterhuyzen
19. DG Wiese
20. Stefan Neustädt
21. Eneill Buitendag
22. Shaun Kaizemi
23. JC Greyling
By Staff Reporter