Rugby players to seek for lost pride in Morocco

THE Namibian rugby side jetted-out to Morocco with high hopes of winning the final of the Africa Cup, in an effort to restore their pride they lost at the Rugby World Cup late last year.

The encounter is billed for Casablanca on Saturday. The team will have eight new faces who did not feature at the Rugby World Cup, as well as a new coach Danie Vermeulen, who will lead the side for the first time since his appointment last month.The eight players are Leon van Wyk, Robert Dedig, Jurie van Tonder, Fanna Lambert, Tinus Venter, Dewald Myburg, Domingo Kamongo and Rene Kruger.The notable absentees from the squad are Rudi van Vuuren, Shalk van der Merwe who is injured, Emile Wessels who has recently signed up for a European based rugby side.Others are Rudi van Vuuren, Heino Senekal, Melrick Africa, Wolfie Duvenhage, Hakkies Husselmann, Neil du Toit, Eben Isaacs and JM Meyer.Namibia’s national team that qualified for last year’s World Cup in Australia, returned home without a win from their four matches, while their preparations ahead of the event was not properly done.Namibian captain Sean Furter told The Namibian Sport yesterday that their aim in Casablanca will be to restore the credibility of the national team – ‘by winning the match on Saturday.’He said they have a strong side that can deliver the goods against the ferocious Moroccan side, which in this case will have an advantage due to their home-crowd.Furter admitted that the Moroccans have a strong tight-five who can give his pack of forwards problems.”Despite this, we are well prepared for them and I think with our hardwork and good preparations that we had for at least the past six weeks, we will be able to overcome them in that department,” he said.Furter who took over as captain from Corne Powell just before the start of the World Cup, said he was convinced that the strength of the Namibian 15 lies in their back line.”We played Morocco before and I know that our back line players are more faster and quick on the ball than them.If our back line gets clean balls from the base of the scrum, we will be able to get over the advantage line more often, and this can result in us scoring easily,” he said.On the new players, Furter said they have fitted in well and know what is expected from them.”I have full confidence in each of the players and I don’t think that the new players will disappoint even if some will be playing for the first time on international level,” he said.Furter said since Vermeulen has taken over as coach, ‘things have been different.’”He knows what he is doing, has a good knowledge of the game’s rules and the players really respect him,” said Furter.The full squad to Morocco is as follows: Sean Furter (captain); Archie Graham; Du Preez Grobler; Morne Schreuder; Deon Mouton; Dewald Myburgh; Domingo Kamonga; Rian van Wyk; Corne Powell; Cor van Tonder; Neil Swanepoel; Tinus Venter; Fanna Lambert; Ronaldo Pedro; Andries Blaauw; Jurie van Tonder; Leon van Wyk; Herman Lintvelt; Jurgens van Lill; Robert Dedig and Leon van Wyk.The team will have eight new faces who did not feature at the Rugby World Cup, as well as a new coach Danie Vermeulen, who will lead the side for the first time since his appointment last month. The eight players are Leon van Wyk, Robert Dedig, Jurie van Tonder, Fanna Lambert, Tinus Venter, Dewald Myburg, Domingo Kamongo and Rene Kruger. The notable absentees from the squad are Rudi van Vuuren, Shalk van der Merwe who is injured, Emile Wessels who has recently signed up for a European based rugby side. Others are Rudi van Vuuren, Heino Senekal, Melrick Africa, Wolfie Duvenhage, Hakkies Husselmann, Neil du Toit, Eben Isaacs and JM Meyer. Namibia’s national team that qualified for last year’s World Cup in Australia, returned home without a win from their four matches, while their preparations ahead of the event was not properly done. Namibian captain Sean Furter told The Namibian Sport yesterday that their aim in Casablanca will be to restore the credibility of the national team – ‘by winning the match on Saturday.’He said they have a strong side that can deliver the goods against the ferocious Moroccan side, which in this case will have an advantage due to their home-crowd. Furter admitted that the Moroccans have a strong tight-five who can give his pack of forwards problems. “Despite this, we are well prepared for them and I think with our hardwork and good preparations that we had for at least the past six weeks, we will be able to overcome them in that department,” he said. Furter who took over as captain from Corne Powell just before the start of the World Cup, said he was convinced that the strength of the Namibian 15 lies in their back line. “We played Morocco before and I know that our back line players are more faster and quick on the ball than them. If our back line gets clean balls from the base of the scrum, we will be able to get over the advantage line more often, and this can result in us scoring easily,” he said. On the new players, Furter said they have fitted in well and know what is expected from them. “I have full confidence in each of the players and I don’t think that the new players will disappoint even if some will be playing for the first time on international level,” he said. Furter said since Vermeulen has taken over as coach, ‘things have been different.’”He knows what he is doing, has a good knowledge of the game’s rules and the players really respect him,” said Furter. The full squad to Morocco is as follows: Sean Furter (captain); Archie Graham; Du Preez Grobler; Morne Schreuder; Deon Mouton; Dewald Myburgh; Domingo Kamonga; Rian van Wyk; Corne Powell; Cor van Tonder; Neil Swanepoel; Tinus Venter; Fanna Lambert; Ronaldo Pedro; Andries Blaauw; Jurie van Tonder; Leon van Wyk; Herman Lintvelt; Jurgens van Lill; Robert Dedig and Leon van Wyk.