NAMIBIA completed a stunning second-half comeback to beat the South African provincial team Southern Kings 28-22 in a World Cup warm-up match at the Hage Geingob national rugby stadium on Saturday.
In a hard, physical battle, the Kings were well in control, leading 22-7 at half-time. But Namibia never gave up, and gradually reduced the deficit until right wing Chad Plato went over for the winning try in the final two minutes.
That was Plato’s second try, while hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld and scrum half Eugene Jantjies also touched down. Cliven Loubser added six points with the boot, and PW Steenkamp two points.
For the Kings, replacement wing JT Jackson scored two tries and centre Howard Mnisi one, while fly half Bader Pretorius added seven points with the boot.
The Kings took an early lead after a penalty by Pretorius, but Namibia soon made their intentions clear when a terrific crash tackle by centre Johan Deysel resulted in Kings winger Christian Ambadiang having to be stretchered off the field.
The Kings, however, continued to dominate the early proceedings, and went 8-0 ahead when Mnisi went over after constant pressure on Namibia’s try line. Namibia opened their account with a try by hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld from an impressive driving maul by the forwards, but the Kings immediately regained the initiative, and two tries in quick succession by JT Jackson put them 22-7 ahead at the break.
With coach Phil Davies ringing the changes at half-time, Namibia came back with a vengeance in the second half.
They twice came close to scoring from driving mauls, but the Kings’ defence managed to keep them at bay.
Namibia continued to attack, and finally breached the defence when replacement scrum half Jantjies went over behind the posts on 70 minutes after being set up by his forwards.
Three minutes later, flanker Rohan Kitshoff won a turnover ball and fullback Chrysander Botha sent Plato away for a blistering run down the right wing to go over for his first try. With Loubser adding the conversion, they were just 22-21 behind.
Namibia continued to attack, and Plato added his second try when he rounded off a quick backline attack five minutes later, while Loubser sealed their victory with a great conversion from the touch line.
The president of the Namibia Rugby Union, Corry Mensah, said it was a great result that would instil confidence in the team.
“It was a brilliant outcome for us. It was a very tight game, and they stretched us to the limit, especially in the first half when they pulled us in a lot and attacked on the outside. It looked as if our backline was in shambles, but it was their clever play that caused all the holes in our backline,” he added.
“It’s a great result for the guys, and it’s great for their spirit, going towards the final warm-up match next week before we depart for Japan. This will lift their spirit tremendously, and give them some courage and self-belief that we are ready,” he noted.
Davies praised the fitness levels of his team.
“The comeback was great, and just shows the level of fitness that the boys have developed, not just over the last month or so, but over the last four years, while the local based players were excellent as well. To win was fantastic, but the way we won was even more pleasing. We won the game in the last 10 minutes, so that’s always a sign of good conditioning and organisation,” he said.
Davies was generally happy with the team’s play in the set pieces.
“The scrums were okay – we have got more work to do, of course. We’ve also got Aranos (Coetzee) coming in, so we’ll have to manage him because he’s played a lot of rugby, but the young props did well for us today. The line-outs were fine, and we’ve got a little bit more work to do on our drives, but that will come.”
