Ireland to gauge Namibia’s strength

NAMIBIA goes into its third consecutive Rugby World Cup tournament as one of the minnows and their first biggest test will be against Ireland in Bordeaux, a match that will measure their capabilities for the rest of the tournament.

The match against Ireland will be a platform where the Namibians will be expected to show what they can do with the ball and most importantly how well they can make use of their opportunities. If Namibia puts up a solid fight against the Irish and avoid a run-away scoring margin, they can count themselves in as no push-overs.Although it will not be easy for the Namibian team, which has never won a match at the event since its inaugural year in 1987, they have set themselves an objective.That objective according to their two-time World Cup entrant and captain, Kees Lensing, is to beat Georgia when they meet on September 26 in Lens.That match will be the ultimate for the two nations as both are currently the whipping boys in Group D, which is dubbed as the ‘Group of Death’.Georgia will have a huge advantage on Namibia as they will go into that match after a break of 14 days, a period in which Namibia will be expected to play two matches.Namibia will play France on September 16, while they will take on Argentina on September 22.Georgia’s match before meeting the Namibians will be played on September 15 against Ireland.This means that Namibia will be walking out of a tough assignment against Argentina on September 22 and will only have four days of rest before they meet Georgia.Despite that advantage, Lensing believes that Georgia will be in for a run for a tough time as Namibia has prepared differently for the tournament this time around.Namibia’s campaign at the 2003 World Cup was a disaster as the team went down to Australia with a record score of 142-0.In that unforgettable match in Adelaide, Namibian flanker, Schalk van der Merwe was the most busiest player as he laboured around the Australian pack, seeking for the lose ball and made the tackles that mattered.Van der Merwe, who is not with the team in France, was a hero in that match and this time, the Namibian side seems to have produced players with similar abilities.Namibia has several players who turn out for South African provincial sides and they have developed into steady customers as they have been exposed to some of the toughest conditions in the world.With their head coach Hakkies Husselman who also played professional rugby in South Africa, the Namibians are capable of putting points on the scoreboard this time around.The tournament will also be a huge experience for the many young players in the side which includes Melrick Africa, Wacca Kazombiaze, Heini Bock, Tertius Losper and Eugene Jantjies.But, with the other experienced players in the side, Namibia will be required to put in respectable performances to avoid repeats of high margins against them.Kick off is 20h00 on SuperSport 1 on DStv.If Namibia puts up a solid fight against the Irish and avoid a run-away scoring margin, they can count themselves in as no push-overs.Although it will not be easy for the Namibian team, which has never won a match at the event since its inaugural year in 1987, they have set themselves an objective.That objective according to their two-time World Cup entrant and captain, Kees Lensing, is to beat Georgia when they meet on September 26 in Lens.That match will be the ultimate for the two nations as both are currently the whipping boys in Group D, which is dubbed as the ‘Group of Death’.Georgia will have a huge advantage on Namibia as they will go into that match after a break of 14 days, a period in which Namibia will be expected to play two matches.Namibia will play France on September 16, while they will take on Argentina on September 22.Georgia’s match before meeting the Namibians will be played on September 15 against Ireland.This means that Namibia will be walking out of a tough assignment against Argentina on September 22 and will only have four days of rest before they meet Georgia.Despite that advantage, Lensing believes that Georgia will be in for a run for a tough time as Namibia has prepared differently for the tournament this time around.Namibia’s campaign at the 2003 World Cup was a disaster as the team went down to Australia with a record score of 142-0.In that unforgettable match in Adelaide, Namibian flanker, Schalk van der Merwe was the most busiest player as he laboured around the Australian pack, seeking for the lose ball and made the tackles that mattered.Van der Merwe, who is not with the team in France, was a hero in that match and this time, the Namibian side seems to have produced players with similar abilities.Namibia has several players who turn out for South African provincial sides and they have developed into steady customers as they have been exposed to some of the toughest conditions in the world.With their head coach Hakkies Husselman who also played professional rugby in South Africa, the Namibians are capable of putting points on the scoreboard this time around.The tournament will also be a huge experience for the many young players in the side which includes Melrick Africa, Wacca Kazombiaze, Heini Bock, Tertius Losper and Eugene Jantjies.But, with the other experienced players in the side, Namibia will be required to put in respectable performances to avoid repeats of high margins against them.Kick off is 20h00 on SuperSport 1 on DStv.