AFTER uncertainty and confusion over the Welwitschias’ participation in this year’s Currie Cup First Division, it’s all systems go when they host the defending champions, the Griffons, in their first match at the Hage Geingob national rugby stadium in Windhoek on Saturday afternoon.
The Welwitschias’ participation was placed in jeopardy three weeks ago when the South African Rugby Union announced huge budget cuts of 52% to its smaller unions at its annual general meeting.
Saru announced that the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) would have to cover the costs of its South African opponents for home matches in Windhoek if it wanted to continue playing in the Currie Cup. But luckily, World Rugby came to the aid of the NRU with financial support, following negotiations with Namibia Rugby Limited CEO Mervin Green.
Green initially said former assistant coaches JP Nel and Jaco Engels would take over the coaching duties of the Welwitschias following the departure of Lyn Jones, who has since joined the Russian national team.
The NRU, however, later overrode his decision, saying Unam coach and former national coach Johan Diergaardt would be the head coach for the Welwitschias’ Currie Cup campaign, with Nel and Engels as his assistants.
It was all done rather late, leaving Diergaardt with less than a week to get his troops ready for the Griffons match, and he could not have asked for a tougher test since the visitors are the defending champions.
“So far, I’ve only had one practise session, but we’ll have two more before Saturday’s match. Luckily the structures will largely remain the same, and I’m thankful to JP, who has taken a strong leadership role in our preparations,” he said.
Diergaardt added that he was honoured to have been selected.
“It’s an honour for me to be part of the Welwitschias and the national set-up, and I am very excited and looking forward to our Currie Cup campaign. The Griffons are the defending champions, and I haven’t seen any material of their matches yet, so it’s going to be a tough match on Saturday.
"But we must just focus on our game, and our processes. I believe in our players, they have shown a lot of character, and they are highly motivated. I think last weekend’s hype after Namibia qualified for the World Cup has contributed to that, so there are some positives in our favour,” he enthused.
At the time of going to press, the Welwitschias’ squad had not been announced yet.
This will be the third season that Namibia will compete in the Currie Cup First Division.
In their inaugural season in 2016, Namibia lost all its matches, and finished bottom of the six-team log.
Last season, the competition was expanded to eight teams, and the Welwitschias showed some improvement, winning one match to finish seventh overall.
Their only victory was against the Eastern Province Kings, whom they beat 51-25. But several of their other matches were very close, and with a bit of luck, they could have registered more victories.
They lost 56-47 to the Falcons, 36-32 to the SWD Eagles, 26-25 to the Border Bulldogs, 26-24 to the Boland Cavaliers and 66-59 to the eventual champions, the Griffons.
This season, the Welwitschias will play three home matches against the Griffons, the Leopards and the Border Bulldogs, and four away matches against the EP Elephants, the Falcons, the SWD Eagles and the Boland Cavaliers.
