Discipline key - Davies
The Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium is set to come alight tomorrow when Namibia meet Uruguay in their first of two test matches.
Windhoek Draught Welwitschias coach Phil Davies says his team will play a disciplined match against Uruguay in their first test match tomorrow at 16:00.
Namibia, who last played in July, will come up against a Uruguayan squad which last played in September. The second test match is scheduled for 25 November.
Davies acknowledged that his team would be the underdogs going into the match, but promised exciting rugby from his players.
“We do know that Uruguay is an experienced nation when it comes to rugby and we know what we have to do in order to stay in the game.
“It is a big test for us as you know that Uruguay is ranked 19th in the world and we are at 21 at the moment.
“It is a great opportunity to improve on our rankings and also to introduce some of our younger players. This is also an opportunity to try out different combinations.
“In this first match, we will have to remain disciplined through the match,” Davies said.
Youngsters such as centre Justin Newman, Cliven Loubser of the Sharks under-20 team and Prince !Goaseb of the junior Blue Bulls, who arrived this week, might get a chance to shine in these two test matches.
Davies acknowledged that not having Cheetahs duo Torsten van Jaarsveld and Aranos Coetzee available for selection was a big loss.
Other players such as Wian Conradie will also be missing from the team because of university examinations, while UK-based Tjiue Uanivi is expected to be in action in the second test match.
The matches serve as preparation for the 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in June and July 2018.
The test matches also form part of the NRU centennial celebrations.
Namibia Breweries Limited managing director Wessie van der Westhuizen pledged the company's commitment to the national team and to continue as sponsor.
“We have got some great ambitions from a sponsorship point of view on how to assist and show our support towards Namibian rugby. It is our wish to see the team winning,” Van der Westhuizen said.
The team is privileged to get a new kit sponsorship from Mizuno, which is a Japanese sports equipment and sportswear company.
The company has pledged its commitment to supporting Namibian rugby until after the 2019 Rugby World Cup to be staged in Japan.
Tickets for the match are selling at N$50 for adults and N$10 for schoolchildren.
Team list
Namibia
15 Johan Tromp, 14 Lesley Klim, 13 JC Greyling, 12 Daryl de la Harpe (VC), 11 David Philander, 10 Cliven Loubser, 9 Damien Stevens, 8 Christo van der Merwe, 7 Thomasu Forbes, 6 Rohan Kitsoff (C, 5 Ruan Ludik, 4 Mahepisa Tjerko, 3 AJ de Klerk, 2 Obert Nortje, 1 Collen Smith. 16 Neil van Muren, 17 Casper Viviers, 18 Nelius Theron, 19 Johan Retrief, 20 Max Katjijeko, 21 TC Kisting, 22 Theuns Kotze, 23 Justin Newman, 24 PW Steenkamp, 25 Adriaan Booysen.
Uruguay
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 German Kessler ,3 Juan Echeverria,4 Ignacio Dotti ,5 Rodolfo Garese,6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (C),7 Manuel Diana,8 Alejandro Nieto,9 Santiago Arata,10 Rodrigo Silva,11 Gaston Gibernau,12 Andres Vilaseca,13 Nicolas Freitas,14 Federico Favaro,15 Gaston Mieres Replacements: 16 Carlos Pombo,17 Carlos Arboleya,18 Matias Benitez,19 Diego Ayala,20 Diego Magno,21 Franco Lamanna,22 Agustin Ormaechea,23 Agustin Della Corte
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
Namibia, who last played in July, will come up against a Uruguayan squad which last played in September. The second test match is scheduled for 25 November.
Davies acknowledged that his team would be the underdogs going into the match, but promised exciting rugby from his players.
“We do know that Uruguay is an experienced nation when it comes to rugby and we know what we have to do in order to stay in the game.
“It is a big test for us as you know that Uruguay is ranked 19th in the world and we are at 21 at the moment.
“It is a great opportunity to improve on our rankings and also to introduce some of our younger players. This is also an opportunity to try out different combinations.
“In this first match, we will have to remain disciplined through the match,” Davies said.
Youngsters such as centre Justin Newman, Cliven Loubser of the Sharks under-20 team and Prince !Goaseb of the junior Blue Bulls, who arrived this week, might get a chance to shine in these two test matches.
Davies acknowledged that not having Cheetahs duo Torsten van Jaarsveld and Aranos Coetzee available for selection was a big loss.
Other players such as Wian Conradie will also be missing from the team because of university examinations, while UK-based Tjiue Uanivi is expected to be in action in the second test match.
The matches serve as preparation for the 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in June and July 2018.
The test matches also form part of the NRU centennial celebrations.
Namibia Breweries Limited managing director Wessie van der Westhuizen pledged the company's commitment to the national team and to continue as sponsor.
“We have got some great ambitions from a sponsorship point of view on how to assist and show our support towards Namibian rugby. It is our wish to see the team winning,” Van der Westhuizen said.
The team is privileged to get a new kit sponsorship from Mizuno, which is a Japanese sports equipment and sportswear company.
The company has pledged its commitment to supporting Namibian rugby until after the 2019 Rugby World Cup to be staged in Japan.
Tickets for the match are selling at N$50 for adults and N$10 for schoolchildren.
Team list
Namibia
15 Johan Tromp, 14 Lesley Klim, 13 JC Greyling, 12 Daryl de la Harpe (VC), 11 David Philander, 10 Cliven Loubser, 9 Damien Stevens, 8 Christo van der Merwe, 7 Thomasu Forbes, 6 Rohan Kitsoff (C, 5 Ruan Ludik, 4 Mahepisa Tjerko, 3 AJ de Klerk, 2 Obert Nortje, 1 Collen Smith. 16 Neil van Muren, 17 Casper Viviers, 18 Nelius Theron, 19 Johan Retrief, 20 Max Katjijeko, 21 TC Kisting, 22 Theuns Kotze, 23 Justin Newman, 24 PW Steenkamp, 25 Adriaan Booysen.
Uruguay
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 German Kessler ,3 Juan Echeverria,4 Ignacio Dotti ,5 Rodolfo Garese,6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (C),7 Manuel Diana,8 Alejandro Nieto,9 Santiago Arata,10 Rodrigo Silva,11 Gaston Gibernau,12 Andres Vilaseca,13 Nicolas Freitas,14 Federico Favaro,15 Gaston Mieres Replacements: 16 Carlos Pombo,17 Carlos Arboleya,18 Matias Benitez,19 Diego Ayala,20 Diego Magno,21 Franco Lamanna,22 Agustin Ormaechea,23 Agustin Della Corte
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
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