Namibia face tough test against Jaguars

THE Namibian national rugby side go into their second international friendly match against Argentina A today, knowing that they have to improve on their poor showing which saw them being hammered 67-7 on Friday.

•CORRY IHUHUA

The Namibians failed to score more than a try in the first of two international friendlies against Argentina’s second stringers in Buenos Aires.
The home side ran holes into their defence, which was totally vulnerable on the day, considering the record score in the end.
Today, the Namibians will have to improve on their game if they want to avoid a huge defeat, while they also have to save face in the process.
The matches are part of the team’s preparations for the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) World Cup qualifiers.
Namibia come up against Ivory Coast in Abidjan on June 13 in their first match of the two-legged qualifiers.
The return leg will be played on June 27 at the Hage Geingob Stadium.
Apart from matches in Argentina, the Namibians are expected to play against South Africa’s Springboks, whose fixture has been confirmed for May 29 at the Hage Geingob Stadium.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers earlier said he would bring his strongest line-up to Namibia to give the local fans a treat in a match that will also feature several international top stars as guest players for the Namibian side.
Among the guest players are retired Bok fullback Percy Montgomery, who was born in Walvis Bay and now lives in South Africa, as well as French international lock Sebastian Chabal.
Springbok flyhalf Butch James is also reported to be available, but the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) still has to make an official announcement on which famous foreign internationals will be available.
It is anticipated that the foreign guest players will turn out for the Namibian side to spice up the one-off encounter, which will merely be held for the promotion of the game on Namibian soil.
The visit of the Namibian team to Argentina follows the one by the Namibian under-20 side which competed in the IRB Junior World Cup in Kenya recently.
The young Namibian side missed an opportunity to land a place in the final after going down to the United States of America in a semi-final encounter which they only had to draw.
corry@namibian.com.na