After their 53-3 defeat against the Golden Lions last week, the FNB Welwitschias face another tough encounter when they host the Steval Pumas at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium on Friday night.
The Pumas recorded the highest score of the first round when they beat the Griffons 57-18 and Welwitschias coach Henry Kemp said it would be a tough encounter.
“It’s going to be a very tough match. The Pumas are very strong in the scrums and the tight facets of the game and they play a very physical game in the contact areas. But we had a good week and are positive and looking forward to the match,” he said.
The Pumas flank Brian Shabangu scored two tries against the Griffons, but he was later carried off on a stretcher and is a doubtful starter for tonight’s match.
Their flyhalf JC Roos also had a good game, scoring 20 points which included a try, while their other try scorers were wing Bernado Botha, Marcello Sampson, Marnus Schoeman, Stefan Watermeyer and Wilmaure Louw.
Kemp has made several changes for tonight’s game, some due to injury, but also with development o the squad in mind.
“We had a few injuries against the Lions, but we are also using the Vodacom Cup as an opportunity to develop our local talent, so we are using a rotation system to give some of the other players in the squad a chance,” he said.
Welwitschias captain Darryl de la Harpe injured his groin against the Lions and will miss tonight’s match although he should be back for the next game against the Griquas on 27 March.
His fellow centre Lesley Klim should also be back soon after pulling his hamstring, but the young prop Andries Rousseau is out for the season after injuring his knee.
“Andries had a freak injury and tore his knee ligaments and he will be out for at least nine months. It’s a big blow for him because that was his first match for the Welwitschias, and now we will have to call up another prop to the squad,” Kemp said.
Kemp has brought in experienced prop Jaco Engels to replace Rousseau, and with both the centres out, he has named a new centre combination of Jacques Nel and Johan Tromp, who moves from wing to centre.
Russel van Wyk moves from fullback to wing, while Justin Nel comes in at fullback.
The young Wanderers hooker DG Wiese comes in for Rathony Becker, Morton van Kradenburg replaces Stef Botha at flank, and Eniell Buitendag replaces Arthur Bouwer at scrumhalf.
Kemp said he was not happy with some aspects of their match against the Lions but there were also some positives to take from the match.
“Our game plan execution was not very good and I wasn’t happy with our first time tackling which needs to improve. The Lions started at a very high tempo and our players will have to get used to the higher tempo of the Vodacom Cup. But in the second half our execution was better and our plans started taking effect,” he said.
Meanwhile, Madri Frewer, Marketing Manager of FNB Namibia expressed her gratitude towards all the supporters who supported the FNB Welwitschias against the Xerox Lions, despite the pouring wet conditions.
“We urge everyone to make a plan for even more support this coming Friday the 13th when our national team takes on the Steval Pumas at 19h00.”
Frewer added that great entertainment was guaranteed and supporters also stood a chance to win great prizes, amongst others N$2 000 cash in the FNB Kick for Cash competition.
FNB also expressed its gratitude with the announcement of the Namibia Rugby Union that any school child that wears his/her school uniform or school sports clothing can gain free entrance to the Open Stand.
“All school going kids who have ‘rugby on their brain’ are welcome to make up teams and support the FNB Welwitschias this weekend in Windhoek,” Frewer said.
The Welwitschias team is as follows:
Quinton Esterhuizen (captain), DG Wiese, Jaco Engels, Ulrich Engels, Morne Blom, Morten van Kradenburg, Thomasau Forbes, Zanna Botes, Eniell Buitendag, Henrique Olivier, Russel van Wyk, Jacques Nel, Johann Tromp, Philip Nashikaku and Justin Nel.
The substitutes are Rathony Becker, Shaun du Preez, Muinjo Kasiringua, Victor Rodrigues, Arthur Bouwer, Shawn Kaizemi and Tuna Amutenya.
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