AFTER a losing start to the SuperSport Rugby Challenge, the Welwitschias face another tough task when they take on the log leaders Tafel Lager Griquas at the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Welwitschias have lost their opening two matches in the competition and are currently bottom of the North section with zero points and a points aggregate of minus 83.
In their opening match they made a strong second half comeback before losing 40-23 to the Gauteng Lions, but last weekend they were no match for the Blue Bulls in Pretoria, going down 87-21.
The Griquas, though, are at the other end of the log after winning their opening two matches. On 27 April, they comfortably beat the Valke 52-10 on their home turf in Kimberley, while last weekend they beat the Griffons 35-26 away in Welkom.
Welwitschias coach Phil Davies has made six changes to the starting line-up that lost to the Blue Bulls last week, bringing in several more experienced players for tomorrow’s encounter.
Louis van der Westhuizen, who was in Namibia’s 2015 World Cup squad, comes in at hooker in place of Neil van Vuuren, while the new flankers are the experienced Rohan Kitshoff and Thomasau Forbes in place of Leneve Damens and Christo van der Merwe.
Namibia’s most capped player, Eugene Jantjies returns at scrum half in place of JC Winkler, while Cliven Loubser moves to fly half in place of PW Steenkamp, with the experienced Chrysander Botha taking over at full back.
Amongst the forwards, the props Andre Rademeyer and AJ de Klerk are retained, as is the lock combination of Ruan Ludick and Max Katjijeko and the eighthman Adriaan Booysen.
Amongst the backs, the wingers Chris Arries and PJ Walters are retained as well as the centre combination of Darryl de la Harpe and Janry du Toit.
De La Harpe is also retained as captain while Kitshoff is the vice captain.
There are also some interesting newcomers amongst the substitutes with Western Suburbs winger Demarcio Hartung and eighthman Moegamat Emandien called up for the first time.
The other substitutes are Neil van Vuuren, Des Sethie, Morne Blom, Prince !Gaoseb, JC Winkler, JC Greyling and PW Steenkamp.
The match starts at 16h00 and will be preceded by a match between Unam III and Grootfontein Rugby Club starting at 12h00.
