Namibia coach Hakkies Husselman has finalised his starting team and replacements for Sunday’s World Cup Pool D clash with Ireland in Bordeaux. Read on for more.
The selected team includes former Leeds prop Kees Lensing, their most high profile player, as captain. The 6ft 3in powerhouse front rower is one of six players in the side who have World Cup experience.
Coach Husselman himself played at the 2003 World Cup, alongside Lensing, winger Melrick Africa, hooker Johannes Meyer, out-half Emile Wessels, hooker Hugo Horn and openside Heino Senekal. Horn and Senekal also featured at the 1999 World Cup.
Namibia has never won a World Cup match and they are targeting their September 26 clash with Georgia for a chance to break their duck.
Lensing explained: “This is the third time we’ve qualified for a World Cup and we’ve never won a game at one. Since the start of our preparations Romania we have said we need to win and break the drought. We want to beat Georgia but we will give it our all against Ireland on Sunday.”
However, Husselman has been less than pleased with the side’s tournament preparations at their base in Marseille.
Speaking on Wednesday, he said: “It is a bit of a concern for the guys as we’re a little bit outside Marseille. Our two training sessions mean we have to travel three hours a day as the gym and field are 40 minutes away from our hotel. There were a few obstacles here and there, but we are trying to sort them out.”
15 – Tertius Losper
14 – Ryan Witbooi
13 – Bratley Langenhoven
12 – Piet van Zyl
11 – Heini Bock
10 – Emile Wessels
9 – Eugene Jantjies
1 – Kees Lensing (capt)
2 – Hugo Horn
3 – Jane du Toit
4 – Wacca Kazombiaze
5 – Nico Esterhuize
6 – Jacques Nieuwenhuis
7 – Heino Senekal
8 – Jacques Burger
Replacements:
16 – Johannes Meyer
17 – Johnny Redelinghuys
18 – Michael MacKenzie
19 – Tinus du Plessis
20 – Jurie van Tonder
21 – Lu-Wayne Botes
22 – Melrick Africa
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