Rugby side in must-win tie

SENIOR national rugby team coach Johan Venter is convinced that his side will clear the semi-final hurdle in a crucial World Cup qualifying encounter against Tunisia at the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.

Venter, whose side surprisingly fell 30-26 to Kenya in that country last month, said the match is of great significance as it will secure Namibians a spot in the final against Morocco on October 28. Venter made nine changes to the side that faced Kenya and believes that this time they will not let the Tunisians humiliate them in front of their own supporters.”We have a young team, but there are also experienced players who we trust can do a proper job for the country.They are all in good shape and all I know is that there is no stopping now because we desperately need the win,” he said.The Namibians will be without their former captain and prop Kees Lensing and the hard-running centre Hendrik Meyer, who will both be doing duty for their provincial sides in the Absa Currie Cup series in South Africa this weekend.But despite that, Venter is happy that the other backline players such Emile Wessels, Deon van den Bergh and Luwayne Botes have all joined the team.Wessels replaces Morne Schreuder at flyhalf because the latter will not be available due to work commitments.The return of flanker Schalk van der Merwe to the side after a two-year absence from test rugby will also bolster the side upfront.Van der Merwe was the hero for the Namibians at the 2003 Rugby World Cup where he almost single-handedly took on the Romanian side in their last match of the tournament.Venter said he was satisfied with the fitness levels of most of the players, adding that the side looks more formidable as most of the key players are now available after most of them were tied to work commitments.If Namibia win, they will play against Morocco on a home-and-away basis, with the home tie set for October 28, before meeting the same side on November 11 again.Venter urged all rugby fans to come in numbers to spur on the side in making it to the finals of the World Cup, which will be held in France next year.He also wished the national football team, the Brave Warriors, luck for their match against Ethiopia on Saturday, saying that “they should do the honourable thing and win at all costs”.The team is as follows – Forwards: Johnny Redelinghuys, Deon v/d Bergh, JM Meyer, Wacca Kazombiaze, Nico Esterhuizen, Tinus du Plessis, Schalk v/d Merwe and Jacques Burger.Backline: Eugene Jantjies, Emile Wessels, Melrick Africa, Corne Powell, Roger Thompson, Heini Bock and Deon Mouton.Reserves: Morne Louw, Riaan Grundling, Jassie Genis, Fanna Lambert, Morne du Plessis, Luwayne Botes and Dawie Koen.Venter made nine changes to the side that faced Kenya and believes that this time they will not let the Tunisians humiliate them in front of their own supporters.”We have a young team, but there are also experienced players who we trust can do a proper job for the country.They are all in good shape and all I know is that there is no stopping now because we desperately need the win,” he said.The Namibians will be without their former captain and prop Kees Lensing and the hard-running centre Hendrik Meyer, who will both be doing duty for their provincial sides in the Absa Currie Cup series in South Africa this weekend.But despite that, Venter is happy that the other backline players such Emile Wessels, Deon van den Bergh and Luwayne Botes have all joined the team.Wessels replaces Morne Schreuder at flyhalf because the latter will not be available due to work commitments.The return of flanker Schalk van der Merwe to the side after a two-year absence from test rugby will also bolster the side upfront.Van der Merwe was the hero for the Namibians at the 2003 Rugby World Cup where he almost single-handedly took on the Romanian side in their last match of the tournament.Venter said he was satisfied with the fitness levels of most of the players, adding that the side looks more formidable as most of the key players are now available after most of them were tied to work commitments.If Namibia win, they will play against Morocco on a home-and-away basis, with the home tie set for October 28, before meeting the same side on November 11 again.Venter urged all rugby fans to come in numbers to spur on the side in making it to the finals of the World Cup, which will be held in France next year.He also wished the national football team, the Brave Warriors, luck for their match against Ethiopia on Saturday, saying that “they should do the honourable thing and win at all costs”.The team is as follows – Forwards: Johnny Redelinghuys, Deon v/d Bergh, JM Meyer, Wacca Kazombiaze, Nico Esterhuizen, Tinus du Plessis, Schalk v/d Merwe and Jacques Burger.Backline: Eugene Jantjies, Emile Wessels, Melrick Africa, Corne Powell, Roger Thompson, Heini Bock and Deon Mouton.Reserves: Morne Louw, Riaan Grundling, Jassie Genis, Fanna Lambert, Morne du Plessis, Luwayne Botes and Dawie Koen.