THE Namibian Welwitschias rugby team opens its account in the 2010 Vodacom Cup competition on Saturday when they host the Griffons at the Hage Geingob National Rugby Stadium.
It will be the first time since 2002 that Namibia will compete in the Vodacom Cup competition, which serves as a feeder system for South Africa’s provincial franchises, where they can groom new players before they are exposed to South Africa’s top provincial competition, the Currie Cup.Namibia’s coach Johan Diergaardt said he was not sure what to expect due to the fact that Namibia had not played against South African provincial teams for many years, but said added that they were well prepared and looking forward to the match.’We are well prepared and I am excited about the talent that we have in our squad. But I don’t know what to expect from the Griffons and we will only be able to assess their strength on Saturday,’ he said. Diergaardt has made several changes to the Namibian team that lost 30-15 to Russia on January 23, the most notable being the new halfback pairing of Colin de Koe and TC Losper, who replace Eugene Jantjies and Emile Wessels respectively.’Eugene is not up to form at the moment so we will give Colin a chance, while Emile has gone back to Australia to play club rugby,’ Diergaardt said. None of Namibia’s professional foreign-based players will be considered for the tournament, since the aim is to strengthen the base of Namibia’s national squad by giving its home based players more game time. Experienced forwards like hooker Hugo Horn, prop Marius Visser and lock Nico Esterhuizen, who were all in action against Russia will therefore be missing. They have been replaced by former Stellenbosch University hooker Shaun Esterhuizen, Wanderers prop Johnny Redelinghuys and Wanderers lock Heinz Koll.The team will also see two new flankers in Renaud van Neel of Unam and Brandon Walters of Western Suburbs, who come in for Thomasu Forbes, who is currently playing in the South African Varsity Cup competition, and Andre Vermeulen, who moves to the bench.EXPERIENCE The Griffons team includes the experienced former Cheetahs winger Eddie Fredericks, who has played more than 200 first class provincial matches and scored more than 70 tries.Other experienced players in their squad are winger Darryl Coeries, prop Sarel Louw and lock Windpomp van Rooyen. The Griffons will be captained by eighthman Nicky Steyn, while their young flyhalf Tiaan van Wyk is highly rated.The Griffons have prepared well for their Vodacom Cup campaign, having played two friendly matches over the past fortnight. On February 12 they lost 31-21 to the Super 14 franchise the Cheetahs and on February 20 they were thrashed 64-16 by the Pumas. Griffons:Tertius Maarman, Eddie Fredericks, Werner Griesel, Thabang Molefe, Darryl Coeries, Tiaan van Wyk, Henrico Schultz, Nicky Steyn (kapt), Johnny Fourie, Albert Parsons, Marnes Briedenhann, Windpomp van Rooyen, Gert Greyling, Derrick van Heerden, Sarel Louw. Substitutes: Graham Heynecke, Sewes Oosthuizen, Kevin Stevens, Leon Grobbelaar, Shaun Botha, Bronwyn Gysman, Virgil Russell.Namibia: Chrysander Botha, Heini Bock, Bradley Langenhoven, Tinus Venter, Llewellyn Winckler, TC Losper, Colin de Koe, PJ van Lill, Renaud van Neel, Brandon Walters, Heinz Koll, Wacca Kazombiaze, Jane du Toit, Shaun Esterhuizen and Johnny Redelinghuys.Reserves: André Vermeulen, Henk Roets, Morné Blom, Julian Botes, Eugene Jantjies, Darryl de La Harpe and Jacky Bock. www.namibiasport.com.na
