Strong team for Welwitschias tour

Saracens loose-forward Jacques Burger will captain Namibia against Canada on November 7 in the first of three matches on the team’s tour to Europe. National team coach, Danie Vermeulen has named five new caps, including Free State Cheetahs captain and hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld, in his squad of 29 players. The other four players who will make their debut for the Welwitschias is prop forward Franklin Bertholini (United, Windhoek), centre JC Greyling (Wesley Old Boys, Ireland), Tjiuee Uanivi (Brive, France) and Russel van Wyk (University of Namibia, Windhoek). The squad, scheduled to leave for Wales on November 2, has a wealth of talent in the loose-forward department. Spearheaded by Burger, who captained Namibia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the team can also draw on the experience of Western Province’s Rohan Kitshoff, PJ van Lill, who is doing duty for Dax in France, and former Wasps back rower Tinus du Plessis. In total the squad features four players involved in South Africa’s Currie Cup, four based in France and as well as two players with experience in the England’s Aviva Premiership. Burger is the one player with experience playing in England while Chrysander Botha, who joined Exeter Chiefs in August, is the other. The balance of the squad is made up of players based in Namibia. Burger will captain the squad in the opening match against Canada at Colwyn Bay before returning to club duties at Saracens. Kitshoff will then lead the team in the two remaining matches against the French Barbarians and Portugal. Vermeulen named his squad after trials held in Windhoek and a series of training camps in the Namibian capital. “We have talented players locally but these players need more exposure to rugby at a higher level,” he said. “The quality of our club rugby needs to improve before we can expect these players to move from club to professional rugby and that gap is just too big.” Namibia suffered a major setback when South African based loose-forward Renaldo Bothma was ruled out of the touring party, after suffering a broken cheek bone in the Pumas’ penultimate Currie Cup match. Vermeulen, however, was very excited by the inclusion of 24-year old lock Tjiuee Uanivi, who plays for Brive in France. “I have had the privilege of coaching him since he left school and always knew that someday he would play for Namibia. He is a very good line-out jumper, on his own as well as the oppositions’ ball,” said Vermeulen. Namibia will play Germany at the United Club in Windhoek on October 29. Namibia’s tour squad: Forwards: Rathony Becker (Western Suburbs), Franklin Bertholini (United), Morné Blom (Wanderers), Jacques Burger (Saracens), Tinus du Plessis (Wanderers), Jaco Engels (United), Nico Esterhuyse (Wanderers), Thomasua Forbes (Western Suburbs ) Rohan Kitshoff (Western Province), Johnnie Redelinghuys (Wanderers), Andre Schlechter (Wanderers), PJ van Lill (Dax, France), Tjiuee Uanivi (Brive, France), Casper Viviers (Saint Naziere, France) and Torsten van Jaarsveld (Free State Cheetahs). Backs: Chrysander Botha (Exeter Chiefs), Eneill Buitendag (Wanderers), Danie Dames (Griquas), Darryl de la Harpe (Western Suburbs), Ryan de la Harpe (Fylde, England), Johan Deysel (Leopards), JC Greyling (Old Wesley, Ireland) , Shaun Kaizemi (Western Suburbs), Theuns Kotze (Bourge-en-Bresse, France ), Malcolm Moore (Wanderers), David Philander (Spotswood United RFC, New Zealand), Johan Tromp (Wanderers) and Russel van Wyk (University of Namibia). WINDHOEK-SPORT REPORTER