THE final group matches of the Namibian Club Rugby Premier League take place on Saturday afternoon with the top-of-the-log encounter between champions Unam and second-placed Wanderers the pick of the bunch.
With both teams already through to the semifinals the result will not be that important, but both teams will be using the encounter to tune up for the semifinals and will be aiming for a win.
Wanderers already beat Unam 37-34 in the first round, to inflict the first defeat on the champions in three years, and their coach Vince Dreyer was confident that they can do it again.
“We can beat Unam. We already beat them before while they also lost to United so I think the other teams are catching up with Unam,” he said, adding that they are aiming for a win.
“We won’t be under pressure because we have already qualified for the semifinals, so we will use the match to try out some new things, but we are definitely going for a win.”
Wanderers have also been strengthened after several of their national team players were released and with players like Christo van der Merwe, Adriaan Booysen, Nian Berg, Denzil van Wyk, Johann Tromp and Janry du Toit back in the squad they will pose a big threat to Unam.
“Earlier this season we had more than 25 players out, with 15 in the national squad and the rest out due to injuries or work commitments, but now we are getting back to full strength and looking forward to the semifinals,” Dreyer said.
Unam have certainly lost their aura of invincibility, especially after their 41-36 defeat to United two weeks ago, and coach Johan Diergaardt admitted that the other teams have closed the gap on them.
“The gap is definitely smaller and although it’s not nice to lose, I know that our success has also motivated the other teams to improve, which is good for Namibian rugby,” he said.
“Against United we were a bit rusty and too relaxed and we only played proper rugby for 20 minutes. We can’t play catch-up rugby anymore, we can’t allow our opponents to get away in the beginning, so we will just have to work harder from the start,” he said.
Unam have also been strengthened by the return of national players TC Kisting, Obert Nortje and Des Sethie and Diergaardt also said they would use the match as preparation for the semifinals.
“It’s an important match for us to see if all our systems are in place and if we are ready for the semis.”
The match starts at 15h45 on Saturday afternoon at the Unam stadium.
Western Suburbs meanwhile face an important match away to Rehoboth on Saturday afternoon, which could determine who they face in the semifinals.
They are currently fourth on the log, but a victory against Rehoboth, coupled with a defeat for Wanderers against Unam, will see them finishing second on the log, with the result that they will avoid facing Unam in the semifinals.
In things pan out like that, Suburbs will face Wanderers, while Unam will face United in the semifinals.
In another match on Saturday, fifth-placed Kudus host bottom-of-the-log Reho Falcon in Walvis Bay.
