Namibia Open Vodacom

Namibia's Welwitschias open the 2015 Vodacom Cup when they play the Golden Lions in Windhoek on Saturday, an important match this year for those who have aspirations to represent Namibia at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Namibia qualified to represent Africa at the World Cup at a tournament in Madagascar in 2014 when they edged out Zimbabwe, who are in répechage, Kenya and Madagascar for a place in Pool C. This will be the fifth time Namibia has played at the World Cup.

There has been a change recently in Namibian rugby - for the better. The union suffered  under its previous management, including financial improprieties, but now it has a new president in ?? Basson, a new CEO in Sybrand de Beer and a new coach in 43-year-old Henry Kemp.

Kemp was born in Johannesburg but grew up in Namibia, schooled in Windhoek. He played hooker for the Mpumalanga Pumas for seven seasons, including two for the Bulls in Super Rugby. He also played for the South African Barbarians. He has been coaching the Namibian forwards. He is now the coach of the Welwitschias along with Roger Thompson.

The team, called the Welwitschias, is not the Namibian national team.  It could not pick a full team at this stage with top players playing elsewhere, including Jacques Burger (Saracens), Torsten van Jaarsveld (Cheetahs) and Renaldo Bothma (Sharks). In fact of the team that beat Portugal in November only three are in this team - Darryl de la Harpe, Johann Tromp and Morné Blom. DG Wiese was on the bench in November and is on the bench again this time.

De la Harpe, who first played for his country in 2010 and was at the last World Cup, is the captain of this team, which has 13 players who have played for Namibia before. The uncapped players are Russell van Wyk, Phillip Nashikaku, Lesley Klim, Henrique Olivier, Zana Botes, Ulrich Engels, Andries Rousseau and Morton van Kradenburg. Klim and Olivier are still Under-20.

Kemp said the team was selected with the focus on the development of Namibia based players. “It will be a baptism of fire for those members of the team who have not played at a higher level but we are confident that they will make the step-up as we are looking to increase the depth of our player pool ahead of the Rugby World Cup later this year."

The team has been training together for six weeks. Amongst those working with the team are two Welsh internationals - Phil Davies and Wayne Proctor.

The Welwitschias have been drawn in the Northern Section of the Vodacom Cup along with the Limpopo, the Griffons, Valke, Leopards, Pumas, Blue Bulls and Golden Lions. All seven of their home matches will be at the Hage Geingob Stadium in the Namibian capital.

Team

Welwitschias: 15 Russell van Wyk, 14 Phillip Nashikaku, 13 Lesley Klim, 12 Darryl de la Harpe (captain), 11 Johann Tromp, 10 Henrique Olivier, 9 Arthur Bouwer, 8 Zana Botes, 7 Stef Botha, 6 Thomasau Forbes, 5 Morné Blom, 4 Ulrich Engels, 3 Andries Rousseau, 2 Rathony Becker, 1 Quintin Esterhuizen (vice-captain)

Replacements : DG Wiese, Jaco Engels, Muniovita Kasiringua, Morton van Kradenburg, Eneill Buitendag, Shawn Kaizemi, Justin Nel.

Date: Friday, 6 March 2015

Kick-off: 19.00

Television broadcast: Live on NBC 3

Venue: Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek

Expected weather conditions: It will be warm in Windhoek with a high of 30°C , dropping to 17°C  and a good chance of thundershowers.  

Referee: Lesego Legoete (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Oscar Lambert (Namibia), Danie Koen (Namibia)