Namibia aim for a win

PARIS – Georgia and Namibia will have the chance to record their first win at a World Cup finals when they go head to head in a Pool D clash at Lens’s Stade Felix Bollaert today.

Kick-off is at 17h30. The two emerging rugby union nations have won the hearts of neutrals in France and around the world with some battling displays during their matches at the tournament so far, belying their status as punchbags for leading sides.Indeed Georgia, like their African opponents handicapped by a gruelling schedule which would never be imposed upon a major nation, came within a whisker of causing one of the great World Cup upsets before losing 10-14 to Ireland in Bordeaux.Meanwhile, Namibia too gave Ireland plenty to think about before suffering a 17-32 reverse.It was only when reduced to 14 men, when No 8 Jacques Niewenhuis was sent off, against France that they took a heavy beating and went down 87-10.That was followed by a 63-3 defeat against Pool leaders Argentina.But today’s match should be a much closer contest.Georgia and Namibia have met just once before with the Europeans winning 26-18 in the first round of the International Rugby Board Nations Cup tournament in Bucharest in June.For Georgia, whose starting XV in their opening 33-3 Pool defeat against Argentina was their most experienced ever with 506 caps, this has already been a landmark tournament with the result against Ireland earning them a first ever Rugby World Cup point for losing by seven or fewer points.Namibia, for all their encouraging play, have set some unwanted records.Their defeat by Argentina was their 10th World Cup loss in a row.Only Japan (13) have lost more in succession at the World Cup and no team has played as many World Cup matches as Namibia without a first win.Georgia fullback Pavle Jimsheladze, whose side will be without captain Ilia Zedginidze after the lock fractured his right kneecap against Ireland, said this World Cup had already been a triumph for the team, regardless of today’s result.”We trained so hard for this.It was the first time that it was so hard and intense for all of us.In 2003 we didn’t do 10 per cent of what we did to prepare for this World Cup.Now we’re collecting the fruits of our labours.”The self-respect is the biggest gain and the respect for our rugby, for Georgia.”Namibia coach Hakkies Husselman, who only has 1 500 senior players from which to select his squad, said he planned to shuffle his team.Husselman has made seven changes for the encounter against Georgia, which will decide who finishes last in Group D.Wingers Ryan Witbooi and Bradley Langenhoven, outside centre Piet van Zyl, prop Kees Lensing, hooker Hugo Horn, lock Heino Senekal and blindside flanker Jacques Nieuwenhuis are in for the match.Nieuwenhuis returns from a one-match ban after Namibia’s 87-10 defeat to France on September 16 in Toulouse.Deon Mouton, Du Preez Grobler, Melrick Africa, Johnny Redelinghuys, Johannes Meyer, Nico Esterhuize and Michael MacKenzie are the players to make way from the 63-3 defeat to Argentina on Saturday in Marseille.”We watched Georgia and they are a brilliant team and, if we make the mistakes of the last few games, we will get punished,” Husselman said.Georgia has one point in the group, while Namibia has zero.Nampa-AFPThe two emerging rugby union nations have won the hearts of neutrals in France and around the world with some battling displays during their matches at the tournament so far, belying their status as punchbags for leading sides.Indeed Georgia, like their African opponents handicapped by a gruelling schedule which would never be imposed upon a major nation, came within a whisker of causing one of the great World Cup upsets before losing 10-14 to Ireland in Bordeaux.Meanwhile, Namibia too gave Ireland plenty to think about before suffering a 17-32 reverse.It was only when reduced to 14 men, when No 8 Jacques Niewenhuis was sent off, against France that they took a heavy beating and went down 87-10.That was followed by a 63-3 defeat against Pool leaders Argentina.But today’s match should be a much closer contest.Georgia and Namibia have met just once before with the Europeans winning 26-18 in the first round of the International Rugby Board Nations Cup tournament in Bucharest in June.For Georgia, whose starting XV in their opening 33-3 Pool defeat against Argentina was their most experienced ever with 506 caps, this has already been a landmark tournament with the result against Ireland earning them a first ever Rugby World Cup point for losing by seven or fewer points.Namibia, for all their encouraging play, have set some unwanted records.Their defeat by Argentina was their 10th World Cup loss in a row.Only Japan (13) have lost more in succession at the World Cup and no team has played as many World Cup matches as Namibia without a first win.Georgia fullback Pavle Jimsheladze, whose side will be without captain Ilia Zedginidze after the lock fractured his right kneecap against Ireland, said this World Cup had already been a triumph for the team, regardless of today’s result.”We trained so hard for this.It was the first time that it was so hard and intense for all of us.In 2003 we didn’t do 10 per cent of what we did to prepare for this World Cup.Now we’re collecting the fruits of our labours.”The self-respect is the biggest gain and the respect for our rugby, for Georgia.”Namibia coach Hakkies Husselman, who only has 1 500 senior players from which to select his squad, said he planned to shuffle his team.Husselman has made seven changes for the encounter against Georgia, which will decide who finishes last in Group D.Wingers Ryan Witbooi and Bradley Langenhoven, outside centre Piet van Zyl, prop Kees Lensing, hooker Hugo Horn, lock Heino Senekal and blindside flanker Jacques Nieuwenhuis are in for the match.Nieuwenhuis returns from a one-match ban after Namibia’s 87-10 defeat to France on September 16 in Toulouse.Deon Mouton, Du Preez Grobler, Melrick Africa, Johnny Redelinghuys, Johannes Meyer, Nico Esterhuize and Michael MacKenzie are the players to make way from the 63-3 defeat to Argentina on Saturday in Marseille.”We watched Georgia and they are a brilliant team and, if we make the mistakes of the last few games, we will get punished,” Husselman said.Georgia has one point in the group, while Namibia has zero.Nampa-AFP