Changes to national rugby side for African Cup

THE Namibian rugby selectors have made numerous changes to the national squad for the upcoming Confederation of African Cup match against Zambia on May 25 and the IRB Nations Tournament in Romania at the beginning of June.

Following national trials at the end of April, several Namibians who play professionally abroad have been selected to a 22-man squad for the Zambia encounter. The professional players amongst the forwards are Hugo Horn, who plays hooker for Border, Jane du Toit who plays prop for Griquas, Jaco Nieuwenhuizen who plays flank for the Falcons and Jacques Burger who plays eighthman for Griquas.Wanderers flanker Wolfie Duvenhage makes a surprise return to the national squad after an absence of a more than a year.The rest of the forwards are prop Johnny Redelinghuys and locks Wacca Kazombiaeze and Nico Esterhuizen.The backs are mostly Namibian-based players who play in the MTC Premier League, with the exception of TC Losper of the Griquas Academy, who makes his debut at fullback.Losper has since joined Western Suburbs and came on as a substitute in their 36-14 victory against Unam on May 5.He has a prodigious boot, but lacks the attacking flair of Namibia’s regular fullback Heini Bock.Another notable newcomer is flyhalf Justinus van der Westhuizen of Wanderers.He has shown good form in the local MTC Premier League and has an accurate boot.With Namibia’s former World Cup flyhalf Emile Wessels out of the equation, after failing to appear for the trials, Van der Westhuizen could be the one to take over the flyhalf role for the World Cup.A notable absentee here is United flyhalf Morne Schreuder, who hasn’t even made the squad of 26 players for the Romanian tour.Namibia’s regular fullback Heini Bock of Reho Falcon moves to the right wing, while his clubmate Melrick Africa is selected at left wing.There is a surprise at centre where veteran former national captain Corne Powell drops to the bench and is replaced by Ryan Witbooi of Western Suburbs.Witbooi’s clubmate Eugene Jantjies is selected at scrumhalf.The seven reserves for the Zambia match are Skipper Badenhorst, hooker of the Sharks Academy; Marius Visser, Jurgens van Lill, Herman Lintvelt, Pieter Rossouw, LuWayne Botes and Corne Powell.Four more players have been selected to compete in the IRB Nations Tournament in Romania from June 5 to 16.They are prop Kees Lensing of the Natal Sharks, lock Heino Senekal who plays club rugby in England, flanker Thinus du Plessis of Stellenbosch University and right wing Stefan du Randt of Wanderers.A further 14 players are on the short list for the tour to Romania.They are locks Jassie Genis, Domingo Kamonga and Heinz Koll, hooker JM Meyer, flanker Michael McKenzie, scrumhalves Jurie van Tonder and Dirkie Lochner, centre Kat Steenkamp, props Carel de Jager and Maurice Kapitako, centre Jurie Booysen, flyhalf Attie du Plessis and wings John Drotsky and Deon Mouton.www.namibiasport.com.naThe professional players amongst the forwards are Hugo Horn, who plays hooker for Border, Jane du Toit who plays prop for Griquas, Jaco Nieuwenhuizen who plays flank for the Falcons and Jacques Burger who plays eighthman for Griquas.Wanderers flanker Wolfie Duvenhage makes a surprise return to the national squad after an absence of a more than a year.The rest of the forwards are prop Johnny Redelinghuys and locks Wacca Kazombiaeze and Nico Esterhuizen.The backs are mostly Namibian-based players who play in the MTC Premier League, with the exception of TC Losper of the Griquas Academy, who makes his debut at fullback.Losper has since joined Western Suburbs and came on as a substitute in their 36-14 victory against Unam on May 5.He has a prodigious boot, but lacks the attacking flair of Namibia’s regular fullback Heini Bock.Another notable newcomer is flyhalf Justinus van der Westhuizen of Wanderers.He has shown good form in the local MTC Premier League and has an accurate boot.With Namibia’s former World Cup flyhalf Emile Wessels out of the equation, after failing to appear for the trials, Van der Westhuizen could be the one to take over the flyhalf role for the World Cup.A notable absentee here is United flyhalf Morne Schreuder, who hasn’t even made the squad of 26 players for the Romanian tour.Namibia’s regular fullback Heini Bock of Reho Falcon moves to the right wing, while his clubmate Melrick Africa is selected at left wing.There is a surprise at centre where veteran former national captain Corne Powell drops to the bench and is replaced by Ryan Witbooi of Western Suburbs.Witbooi’s clubmate Eugene Jantjies is selected at scrumhalf.The seven reserves for the Zambia match are Skipper Badenhorst, hooker of the Sharks Academy; Marius Visser, Jurgens van Lill, Herman Lintvelt, Pieter Rossouw, LuWayne Botes and Corne Powell.Four more players have been selected to compete in the IRB Nations Tournament in Romania from June 5 to 16.They are prop Kees Lensing of the Natal Sharks, lock Heino Senekal who plays club rugby in England, flanker Thinus du Plessis of Stellenbosch University and right wing Stefan du Randt of Wanderers.A further 14 players are on the short list for the tour to Romania.They are locks Jassie Genis, Domingo Kamonga and Heinz Koll, hooker JM Meyer, flanker Michael McKenzie, scrumhalves Jurie van Tonder and Dirkie Lochner, centre Kat Steenkamp, props Carel de Jager and Maurice Kapitako, centre Jurie Booysen, flyhalf Attie du Plessis and wings John Drotsky and Deon Mouton.www.namibiasport.com.na