NAMIBIAN rugby coach John Williams has made four changes to the national team that lost 45-6 to Western Province last Saturday, in preparation for this coming Saturday’s 2011 World Cup qualifying match against Senegal.
Amongst the forwards, Reho Falcon flanker Deon Pieters comes in as lock in place of Eugene Forbes of Unam, who is out with an injury. It might be a risk to select a flanker in the specialist lock position, but Williams has said that there is a dearth of locks in Namibia, which probably led to his decision.In the backline, a new centre combination has been selected in Jaco van Zyl and Bradley Langenhoven, who replace John Drotsky and David Philander.Melrick Africa, who was originally selected for the match against Western Province, but was a late withdrawal due to injury, returns at flyhalf and replaces Jaco van Zyl, who moves to centre.The return of the experienced Africa should add more direction in the backline, which was largely ineffective against Western Province.The youthful Van Zyl had a satisfactory debut at flyhalf, but last weekend’s centre combination of Drotsky and Philander seldom looked like breaching Province’s defence.The inclusion of the pacey Langenhoven, who represented Namibia at the 2007 World Cup, and Van Zyl should give Namibia more attacking options against Senegal.The match against Senegal is a first preliminary qualifier for the 2011 World Cup, with the loser automatically falling out of the qualifying race.Despite the 45-6 defeat to Province, Namibian coach Williams said he was optimistic that Namibia would beat Senegal.The Namibian team to face Senegal is as follows: 15 TC Losper, 14 Deon Mouton, 13 Bradley Langenhoven, 12 Jaco van Zyl, 11 Ryan Witbooi, 10 Melrick Africa, 9 Eugene Jantjies.8 Tinus du Plessis, 7 Pieter van Lill, 6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis (captain), 5 Deon Pieters, 4 Wacca Kazombiaze, 3 Jane du Toit, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Johnny Redelinghuys.Substitutes: 16 Hauta Veii, 17 Ivan Gaya, 18 Ockert du Plessis, 19 Gawan Esterhuizen, 20 Elrich Jansen, 21 David Philander, 22 John Drotsky.The management that will accompany the team is as follows: Gregory Olivier – team manager, John Williams – head coach, Johan Diergaardt and Hakkies Louw – assistant coaches, Jacobus Jacobs – fitness coach, Randall Louw – physio and Carel Kruger – NRU executive.Namibia SportIt might be a risk to select a flanker in the specialist lock position, but Williams has said that there is a dearth of locks in Namibia, which probably led to his decision.In the backline, a new centre combination has been selected in Jaco van Zyl and Bradley Langenhoven, who replace John Drotsky and David Philander.Melrick Africa, who was originally selected for the match against Western Province, but was a late withdrawal due to injury, returns at flyhalf and replaces Jaco van Zyl, who moves to centre.The return of the experienced Africa should add more direction in the backline, which was largely ineffective against Western Province.The youthful Van Zyl had a satisfactory debut at flyhalf, but last weekend’s centre combination of Drotsky and Philander seldom looked like breaching Province’s defence.The inclusion of the pacey Langenhoven, who represented Namibia at the 2007 World Cup, and Van Zyl should give Namibia more attacking options against Senegal.The match against Senegal is a first preliminary qualifier for the 2011 World Cup, with the loser automatically falling out of the qualifying race.Despite the 45-6 defeat to Province, Namibian coach Williams said he was optimistic that Namibia would beat Senegal.The Namibian team to face Senegal is as follows: 15 TC Losper, 14 Deon Mouton, 13 Bradley Langenhoven, 12 Jaco van Zyl, 11 Ryan Witbooi, 10 Melrick Africa, 9 Eugene Jantjies.8 Tinus du Plessis, 7 Pieter van Lill, 6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis (captain), 5 Deon Pieters, 4 Wacca Kazombiaze, 3 Jane du Toit, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Johnny Redelinghuys.Substitutes: 16 Hauta Veii, 17 Ivan Gaya, 18 Ockert du Plessis, 19 Gawan Esterhuizen, 20 Elrich Jansen, 21 David Philander, 22 John Drotsky.The management that will accompany the team is as follows: Gregory Olivier – team manager, John Williams – head coach, Johan Diergaardt and Hakkies Louw – assistant coaches, Jacobus Jacobs – fitness coach, Randall Louw – physio and Carel Kruger – NRU executive.Namibia Sport
