Williams calls strong line-up

NAMIBIA rugby coach John Williams has selected 12 of Namibia’s foreign-based players for their World Cup qualifying encounter against Zimbabwe in Windhoek on August 2.

Williams said that it was a do-or-die match that Namibia had to win. “We had a tough match against Senegal, so we don’t want to repeat that and want to pull this one through.This match is of national interest and we have therefore called up 12 of our foreign-based players to join our training camp.Zimbabwe is always a tough nut to crack and the team is unknown to us,” he said.The Namibian team includes eighthman Jacques Burger who captained the team at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and now plays for the Blue Bulls, while several other experienced players from the World Cup are also included.They include centre Luwayne Botes from the University of Johannesburg, prop Jane du Toit who now plays for Cape club side Hamiltons, Boland lock Nico Esterhuyse, Potchefstroom University centre Bradley Langenhoven, Boland centre Piet van Zyl, Blue Bulls fullback TC Losper and Falcons flank Jacques Nieuwenhuis.Flanker Tinus du Plessis and hooker Hugo Horn, who have joined English club side Rotheringham, have also been selected.The team will play the South African Universities in a warm-up match in Windhoek on July 26.The Namibian squad: Fullback: TC Losper (Blue Bulls) Wings: Chrysander Botha (Maties), Ryan Witbooi (Western Suburbs), Bradley Langenhoven (Potchefstroom University).Centres: Luwayne Botes (Johannesburg University), Du Preez Grobler (United), Piet van Zyl (Boland), Luwayne Kotzee (Reho Falcon), David Philander (Reho Falcons), Tinus Venter (United), Llewellyn Winckler (Maties).Flyhalf: Jaco van Zyl (Mariental), Godwin Walters (Western Suburbs).Scrumhalf: Eugene Jantjies (Western Suburbs).Eighthman: Jacques Burger (Blue Bulls).Flanks: Tinus du Plessis (Rotheringham), Gawan Esterhuizen (United), Jacques Nieuwenhuis (Falcons), Deon Pieters (Reho Falcon).Locks: Ockert du Plessis (United), Nico Esterhuyse (Boland), Eugene Forbes (Unam), Wacca Kazombiaze (Western Suburbs), PJ van Lill (Wanderers).Props: Johan Coetzee (Potchefstroom University), Jane du Toit (Hamiltons), Johnny Redelinghuys (Wanderers), Hauta Veii (Western Suburbs).Hookers: Hugo Horn (Rotheringham), Shaun Esterhuysen (Maties).Namibia Sport”We had a tough match against Senegal, so we don’t want to repeat that and want to pull this one through.This match is of national interest and we have therefore called up 12 of our foreign-based players to join our training camp.Zimbabwe is always a tough nut to crack and the team is unknown to us,” he said.The Namibian team includes eighthman Jacques Burger who captained the team at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and now plays for the Blue Bulls, while several other experienced players from the World Cup are also included.They include centre Luwayne Botes from the University of Johannesburg, prop Jane du Toit who now plays for Cape club side Hamiltons, Boland lock Nico Esterhuyse, Potchefstroom University centre Bradley Langenhoven, Boland centre Piet van Zyl, Blue Bulls fullback TC Losper and Falcons flank Jacques Nieuwenhuis.Flanker Tinus du Plessis and hooker Hugo Horn, who have joined English club side Rotheringham, have also been selected.The team will play the South African Universities in a warm-up match in Windhoek on July 26.The Namibian squad: Fullback: TC Losper (Blue Bulls) Wings: Chrysander Botha (Maties), Ryan Witbooi (Western Suburbs), Bradley Langenhoven (Potchefstroom University).Centres: Luwayne Botes (Johannesburg University), Du Preez Grobler (United), Piet van Zyl (Boland), Luwayne Kotzee (Reho Falcon), David Philander (Reho Falcons), Tinus Venter (United), Llewellyn Winckler (Maties).Flyhalf: Jaco van Zyl (Mariental), Godwin Walters (Western Suburbs).Scrumhalf: Eugene Jantjies (Western Suburbs).Eighthman: Jacques Burger (Blue Bulls).Flanks: Tinus du Plessis (Rotheringham), Gawan Esterhuizen (United), Jacques Nieuwenhuis (Falcons), Deon Pieters (Reho Falcon).Locks: Ockert du Plessis (United), Nico Esterhuyse (Boland), Eugene Forbes (Unam), Wacca Kazombiaze (Western Suburbs), PJ van Lill (Wanderers).Props: Johan Coetzee (Potchefstroom University), Jane du Toit (Hamiltons), Johnny Redelinghuys (Wanderers), Hauta Veii (Western Suburbs).Hookers: Hugo Horn (Rotheringham), Shaun Esterhuysen (Maties).Namibia Sport